Dense Fog — Animas River Basin, Colorado

2024-12-27 · Animas River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

Shortly before 3AM local time, the KDRO ASOS at Durango-La Plata County Airport began reporting visibilities less than 1/4 mile. In addition, satellite imagery indicated a widespread area of dense fog throughout the Animas River Basin. As the sun began to rise, airfield cameras provided by the Federal Aviation Administration and road cameras provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation allowed for visual confirmation of the dense fog throughout the area. No reports of injuries, damages, or fatalities were received.

Wider weather episode

Several winter storms passed through eastern Utah and western Colorado during the last week of 2024, bringing widespread precipitation in the form of rain and snow to the region. Each system reinforced areas of rich low level moisture trapped in lower elevation valleys across western Colorado. With colder temperatures and clearing skies in the wake of each wave, the rich low level moisture condensed in dense fog that lingered well into the daylight hours before finally lifting.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1226689. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.