Dense Fog — Carroll, Virginia

2013-03-31 · Carroll, Virginia

Event narrative

The dense fog, with visibility reported to be near zero, led to a horrific series of accidents around 1:15 PM EDT near mile marker 6 in the southbound (downhill) lanes of I-77. According to newspaper accounts there were 17 separate crashes along a 1-mile stretch involving 95 cars. Three people were killed and 25 taken to area hospitals. State Police cited the fog and excessive speed as factors causing the event.

Wider weather episode

Dense fog near Fancy Gap helped to create the conditions for a massive pileup on southbound Interstate 77 in Carroll County. A warm front had lifted northward across the region during the early morning hours accompanied by showers. By early afternoon the bulk of the rain had shifted east but low clouds and fog persisted in areas of higher terrain along the southern Blue Ridge.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 441212. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.