Narrative:

I was working local control-3/4 (local control) during the first arrival push of the morning; working the arrivals on runway xxr. The weather was marginal with a low level fog layer that was spotty around the field. I had several PIREPS stating that they were VFR until approximately 1400 ft.; then zero visibility and only at minimums did the approach lights become visible. The runway was then visible around 70 ft. Below minimums. I had 1 go around due to the weather and divert to ZZZ1. Due to runway construction on runway xxl the departures were pushed to the north complex as long as possible. As the departures started taxiing to runway xxr coordination between myself and ground control-C (ground control) we agreed to hold aircraft on taxiway november short of the critical areas due to losing visibility of the arrivals on short final for runway xxr. The supervisors during this time were coordinating and it was said that the arrivals would be coming off runway xxr so that we could get the departures out and avoid aircraft being in the critical areas. More coordination from the supervisors with TRACON then said that they will continue to land runway xxr with 6 mile gaps. The supervisor said that if we have anymore go a rounds that TRACON would then come off runway xxr. At this point aircraft are still holding short of the critical areas.I then give a position relief briefing and take a break. After my break I returned and was assigned to local control-5 (same side of the tower); I ask the controllers how and why we're in the critical area worth the departures. I was told that because the reported weather on the ATIS showed the field was VFR and that we didn't need to protect the critical areas. We are constantly told that we need to create a culture around safety and that safety should be first. It seems that way until we become overwhelmed with traffic and then safety takes the back burner. Fog was in the forecast; this was expected; and the arrival rates should have been adjusted to accommodate coming off landing on runway xxr when we should have favored the departures. Just because the ATIS says the field is VFR doesn't mean we should be compromising the critical area to accommodate the traffic volume when that portion of the airport was heavy IFR.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller reported departing aircraft were cleared passed ILS critical areas despite heavy fog and inbound IFR traffic.

Narrative: I was working LC-3/4 (Local Control) during the first arrival push of the morning; working the arrivals on Runway XXR. The weather was marginal with a low level fog layer that was spotty around the field. I had several PIREPS stating that they were VFR until approximately 1400 ft.; then zero visibility and only at minimums did the approach lights become visible. The runway was then visible around 70 ft. below minimums. I had 1 go around due to the weather and divert to ZZZ1. Due to runway construction on Runway XXL the departures were pushed to the north complex as long as possible. As the departures started taxiing to Runway XXR coordination between myself and GC-C (Ground Control) we agreed to hold aircraft on Taxiway November short of the critical areas due to losing visibility of the arrivals on short final for Runway XXR. The supervisors during this time were coordinating and it was said that the arrivals would be coming off Runway XXR so that we could get the departures out and avoid aircraft being in the critical areas. More coordination from the supervisors with TRACON then said that they will continue to land Runway XXR with 6 mile gaps. The supervisor said that if we have anymore go a rounds that TRACON would then come off Runway XXR. At this point aircraft are still holding short of the critical areas.I then give a position relief briefing and take a break. After my break I returned and was assigned to LC-5 (same side of the Tower); I ask the controllers how and why we're in the critical area worth the departures. I was told that because the reported weather on the ATIS showed the field was VFR and that we didn't need to protect the critical areas. We are constantly told that we need to create a culture around safety and that safety should be first. It seems that way until we become overwhelmed with traffic and then safety takes the back burner. Fog was in the forecast; this was expected; and the arrival rates should have been adjusted to accommodate coming off landing on Runway XXR when we should have favored the departures. Just because the ATIS says the field is VFR doesn't mean we should be compromising the critical area to accommodate the traffic volume when that portion of the airport was heavy IFR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.