Super Fog Causes Deadly 158-Vehicle Pileup in Louisiana, Leaving 7 Dead, 25 Injured

Super Fog, a combination of thick smoke from marsh fires and heavy fog, reduces visibility to nearly zero; current conditions in Louisiana's drought-stricken marshlands may increase these dangerous events.

Super fog, a severe weather condition resulting from a combination of thick smoke from marsh fires and heavy fog, was identified as the propelling factor for a disastrous 158-vehicle pileup in Louisiana, claiming seven lives and injuring 25 people.
The properties of super fog, which is fog amplified by smoke from damp, smoldering organic material according to the National Weather Service, can decrease visibility to less than 10 feet.
The swampy marshlands of Southern Louisiana hit by an ongoing drought are prone to fires, which can last for weeks or months, thus increasing the chances of super fog occurrences.
The uncontrolled fires in these marshlands are commonly triggered by lightning strikes, controlled burns by wildlife officers to promote new growth, hunters trying to flush game, and at times, intentional arson.
Although super fog incidents are not a frequent occurrence, requiring a perfect align of conditions to form, the changing weather patterns and climate could increase their frequency, as moisture trapped near the ground and smoldering leaves and brush from fires lead to very low visibility.