A foul-weather light is a specially designed light that provides optimal visibility in fog, rain, snow, or poorly lit conditions . This type of lighting is used in automotive, marine, aviation, and outdoor lighting to enhance safety.
1. Features of a bad weather lamp
✅ Bright and focused light → Prevents light scattering in fog or precipitation.
✅ Specific color temperatures → Yellow, white or bluish light depending on the application.
✅ Weather and shock resistant → Resistant to rain, snow, ice and extreme temperatures .
✅ LED, halogen or xenon → Modern variants use energy-efficient LED technology .
✅ Improved visibility → Reduces reflection of rain and fog particles.
2. Types of bad weather lights and applications
🚗 1. Vehicle lights (Fog and headlights)
| Type | Colour | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Front fog lights | Yellow or white | Aimed low to the road to reduce fog reflection |
| Rear fog lights | Red | Bright red light to be seen in dense fog |
| All-weather headlights | Neutral white | Switches between standard and mist mode |
| Adaptive LED lighting | White | Automatically adjusts to rain and fog |
🔹 Yellow light reduces glare in fog and rain , making it a popular choice for fog lights .
🚢 2. Maritime lighting (navigation & work lights in bad weather)
| Type | Colour | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Spotlights with fog filters | Warm white or yellow | For ships in foggy harbors |
| Navigation lights | Red, green and white | Visibility in poor visibility |
| Deck and searchlights | LED white | For emergencies and searching in rain/snow |
✈ 3. Aviation lighting
| Type | Colour | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-collision lights | Red/white flashing | Increases visibility of aircraft in bad weather |
| Landing lights | Bright white | Helps pilots navigate in fog and rain |
| Runway Approach Lights | White/yellow/red | Air traffic control in low visibility |
🌧 4. Outdoor lighting (weatherproof lamps)
| Type | Colour | Application |
|---|---|---|
| IP65/IP68 LED lights | Warm white | Resistant to rain and snow |
| Fog-proof spotlights | Yellow or warm white | For industrial or residential fog areas |
| Automatic sensor lights | LED white | Switches on in foggy weather |
3. Why yellow or white lights in bad weather?
🔸 Yellow light → Less scatter in fog and rain, better contrast.
🔹 White light → Bright lighting, good for general visibility.
📌 Modern LED systems often combine both colours to adapt to the weather.
💡 In short:
A bad-weather light improves visibility and safety in fog, rain, snow, and dark conditions . Depending on the application, there are vehicle fog lights, marine spotlights, aviation lights, and outdoor lights with weather-resistant and adaptive technologies .