Dense Fog — Debeque To Silt Corridor, Colorado

2026-01-02 · Debeque To Silt Corridor, Colorado

Event narrative

Areas of dense fog developed within valleys along I-70 during the morning of January 2. The KRIL ASOS at the Rifle Garfield County Airport reported two periods of 1/4-mile visibility from dense fog. The first occurred before sunrise and lasted for about 15 minutes. The second occurred shortly after sunrise and after a brief rain shower, and fog persisted for about a half an hour before dissipating. No reports of injuries, damages, or fatalities were received.

Wider weather episode

A deep Pacific trough brought moist southwesterly flow to much of the western CONUS on January 1. A weak upper-level jet streak arrived in coincidence with the surge of moisture, prompting widespread precipitation in western Colorado throughout the morning of the 1st. Strong cold air advection behind the storms rapidly saturated valleys, and areas of dense fog developed during throughout the night and into the morning of January 2.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1309214. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.