Dense Fog — Merced-madera-mendota, California

2024-01-18 · Merced-madera-mendota, California

Event narrative

Visibility below a quarter mile was reported in Atwater, Merced and Madera. Several webcams showed visibility below 1000 feet. A 6 vehicle accident with three tractor trailers and three cars occurred at 557 PST on Westbound SR 152 at Road 9. The accident resulted in one fatality and several serious injuries. Visibility was below 1000 feet during the time of the accident.

Wider weather episode

High pressure moved into central California on January 17 which resulted in clearing skies and light winds over the area by the evening. With low level moisture present in the San Joaquin Valley due to recent rainfall, dense fog formed overnight and continued through the late morning hours of January 18 until it lifted into a low cloud deck. The fog was responsible for a 6 vehicle accident near Chowchilla which resulted in one fatality and several injuries.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1148092. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.