Dense Fog — Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin, Colorado

2024-12-28 · Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

Around 3AM local time, the KMTJ ASOS at the Montrose Regional Airport began reporting visibilities of 1/4 mile or less. Additionally, satellite imagery indicated that the dense fog was more than localized. As the sun rose, airfield cameras provided by the Federal Aviation Administration and road cameras provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation allowed for visual confirmation of the extent of the dense fog. Additionally, these cameras allowed the forecaster the ability to gauge when the fog was beginning to lift, which didn't occur until 12PM local time. No reports of injuries, damages, or fatalities were received.

Wider weather episode

The unsettled pattern that characterized the last week of the month of December brought widespread precipitation to eastern Utah and western Colorado with regularity. This precipitation created pools of rich low level moisture trapped in the lower elevation valleys across the region. As skies cleared and temperatures cooled each night, dense fog then developed in each of these valleys, often widespread. Thanks to the low sun angle, this fog would linger well into the daylight hours before finally lifting.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1226694. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.