Dense Fog — Grand Flat and Arches, Utah

2024-12-29 · Grand Flat and Arches, Utah

Event narrative

At around 2:30AM local time, the KCNY ASOS at Canyonlands Airport, about 10 miles north of Moab, UT, began reporting visibility reduced to 1/4 mile or less. In addition, satellite imagery indicated that the dense fog was widespread throughout the zone, particularly along well travelled highway corridors. As the sun rose, road cameras provided by the Utah Department of Transportation allowed for visual confirmation of the extent of the fog. This fog lingered through the morning before beginning to finally lift around 12PM local time. No reports of injuries, damages, or fatalities were received.

Wider weather episode

As several weak systems moved through the area during the last week of 2024, they helped to create pools of rich moisture trapped in the lower elevation valleys. These pools of moisture condensed during the overnight period into widespread areas of dense fog. The lower elevation river valleys of eastern Utah and western Colorado were mainly effected.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1226703. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.