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The recent huge, fog-related pileups in California include a 59-vehicle crash on Highway 99 in Tulare County on Jan. 31, which caused 10 injuries. Another major accident occurred nearby on Jan. 27, in which 43 vehicles crashed on Highway 58 near Bakersfield, leading to nine injuries. No one was killed in either wreck.

Named after the tule grass of the Central Valley, tule (TOO-lee) fog is a type of radiation fog. It forms on clear, calm nights when the ground loses heat rapidly. And forecasters warn that the danger will continue for several days.

"Tule fog is a major hazard to navigation and is the leading cause of weather-related accidents in California," according to a release from NASA.

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What is tule fog?

One of the most dangerous aspects of winter in California's Central Valley is tule fog, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's western region headquarters. It forms on clear nights when the ground is moist and the wind is nearly calm. On nights such as this, the ground cools rapidly.

In turn, the moist air above it cools and causes water vapor to condense, creating fog.

Once it has formed, the air must be heated enough to either evaporate the fog or lift it above the surface so that visibilities improve.

Visibility can drop to near zero

The visibility in tule fog is often less than 1/8th of a mile, about 600 feet, but can be less than 10 feet, NOAA said. Visibility can vary rapidly in any area, with sudden decreases to near zero in only a few feet. It is situations like these that often lead to multi-car accidents where one car follows another into a fog bank.

Another area prone to fatal accidents is intersections across major roads or heavily traveled roads, where the cross traffic does not have to stop, according to NOAA.

What's the forecast?

According to a Feb. 4 forecast from theNational Weather Service in Hanford, California, "High to very high transportation risk will continue through the week. Visibility will be near zero at times. Dangerous fog can move in quickly, before you have time to react, drive carefully or make other plans."

"Highways impacted include, but are not limited to Interstate 5, State Routes 99, 41, 43, 46, 58, 59, 140, 152, 165, 180 and 198."

"Low visibility will make driving conditions hazardous," the weather service said.

Tule fog forming less often

Central California has seen long stretches of cold, socked-in days in the past, NASA said. In 1985, for example, Fresno experienced 16 consecutive days of dense fog, and Sacramento endured 17, according to news reports.

Researchers have found, however, that tule fog has been forming less often in California in recent decades.

How to drive in tule fog

Here are some tips from NOAA for driving in tule fog:

• Drive with your lights on, even during daylight hours. But use the low beam only. High beam lights decrease your visibility by reflecting more fog back to you.

• Reduce your speed. If you are late to your destination, then just be late. It is far better to be late a few minutes due to fog than to be late by several hours or days via a trip to the hospital because of an accident.

• Listen for traffic you cannot see.

• Avoid intersections where cross traffic does not stop.

• Be patient. Do not pass lines of traffic.

• Do not stop on a freeway or heavily traveled road unless absolutely necessary. If you must stop, get away from your vehicle to avoid personal injury.

• If possible, postpone your trip until the fog lifts, usually by late morning.

• Finally, be sure to heed instructions in those areas where the California Highway Patrol is providing escorts.

• Always read and obey the overhead traffic and weather information on signs along California highways.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Infamous 'tule fog' back in California forecast after huge crashes

TUNIS, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Tunisian police arrested lawmaker Ahmed Saidani on Wednesday, two of his colleagues said, in what appeared ​to be part of an escalating crackdown on critics of ‌President Kais Saied.

Saidani has recently become known for his fierce criticism of Saied. On Tuesday, he ‌mocked the president in a Facebook post, describing him as the "supreme commander of sewage and rainwater drainage," blasting what he said was the absence of any achievements by Saied.

Saidani was elected as a lawmaker at the end of 2022 ⁠in a parliamentary election ‌with very low voter turnout, following Saied's dissolution of the previous parliament and dismissal of the government in 2021.

Saied has ‍since ruled by decree, moves the opposition has described as a coup.

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Most opposition leaders, some journalists and critics of Saied, have been imprisoned since he seized control of ​most powers in 2021.

Activists and human rights groups say Saied has ‌cemented his one‑man rule and turned Tunisia into an "open‑air prison" in an effort to suppress his opponents. Saied denies being a dictator, saying he is enforcing the law and seeking to "cleanse" the country.

Once a supporter of Saied's policies against political opponents, Saidani has become a vocal critic in recent months, accusing ⁠the president of seeking to monopolize all ​decision-making while avoiding responsibility, leaving others to ​bear the blame for problems.

Last week, Saidani also mocked the president for "taking up the hobby of taking photos with the poor ‍and destitute," sarcastically ⁠adding that Saied not only has solutions for Tunisia but claims to have global approaches capable of saving humanity.

Under Tunisian law, lawmakers enjoy ⁠parliamentary immunity and cannot be arrested for carrying out their duties, although detention is allowed ‌if they are caught committing a crime.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara; editing ‌by Mark Heinrich and Bill Berkrot)

"The Florida Department of Education recently received correspondence from members of the Florida legislature regarding reports of organized student protest activity occurring during the school day," Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said in a letter issued Feb. 3 to Florida school districts. "I want to thank them for bringing this matter to my attention and for their leadership in elevating concerns related to student safety, instructional time, and the appropriate role of public schools."

He didn't specify which district the reports came from, but the letter came about 24 hours after posts about walkouts at high schools throughout Brevard began circulating online, prompting both School Board Chair Matt Susin and Superintendent Mark Rendell to warn students that if they participated, they would face discipline.

"While students may express their views in appropriate, lawful ways outside of the school day and off school property, disruptions to learning and campus operations will not be tolerated," Susin said in a statement posted to Brevard Public Schools' website.

Both Susin and Rendell said the walkouts were not affiliated with the district.

The letter won't change how the district will respond to walkouts, said Janet Murnaghan, chief strategic communications officer for BPS.

"Yesterday, Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell shared a letter with families outlining the district's expectations," Murnaghan said in an email to FLORIDA TODAY. "As noted in that communication, walkouts during the instructional day are not permitted, and standard attendance and disciplinary policies will apply."

Here's what Kamoutsas said.

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Students have rights but may still be disciplined

Kamoutsas reminded educators and leaders that they "carry a responsibility to safeguard instructional time;" keep campuses safe; and follow the law, Board of Education rules and school board policies.

Still, he added that students have a constitutional right to free expression, adding that this includes the ability to participate in peaceful protests if "such expression complies with applicable law and school district policy."

"Any student whose actions are to the contrary should be appropriately disciplined," he said. "Districts have a responsibility to ensure that any protest activity does not interrupt instructional time, school operations and campus safety."

He went on to say that adults may not encourage, promote, organize or otherwise facilitate student participation in protests during the school day, and that conduct that distracts or undermines instruction could warrant discipline.

Additionally, he cited a Florida Board of Education rule that requires educators to "take reasonable precautions to distinguish between personal views and those of any educational institution or organization with which the individual is affiliated."

Addressing parents, he encouraged families to have conversations with students about the "importance of not allowing civic engagement to detract from time in the classroom."

Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker atfwalker@floridatoday.com. X:@_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today:Florida's education head sends guidance on ICE protests