Dense Fog — Luzerne, Pennsylvania

1998-10-09 · Luzerne, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

The combination of deep easterly flow and Gulf moisture flowing northward and over a stalled frontal boundary produced a saturated environment across northeastern Pennsylvania on the 9th. The higher elevations of the region from the southern Poconos northward into Lackawanna county experienced very dense fog from late morning until mid-afternoon on this day. Visibility was reduced to near zero in many areas. A 25 vehicle chain reaction pile up occurred early in the afternoon on Interstate 81 going through the higher terrain of Rice and Nuangola Townships, just south of Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne county. A dozen injuries were reported and the highway had to be shut down for several hours. Authorities on the northeast extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike just west of Hazleton and near Clarks Summit also relayed reports of near zero visibility and traffic accidents.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5664401. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.