Freezing Fog — Frederick, Maryland

2007-12-31 · Frederick, Maryland

Event narrative

Dense fog and freezing fog was reported by the AWOS at the Frederick Municipal Airport. Dense freezing fog and icy roadways caused numerous travel problems in Frederick County. Over 100 vehicle crashes were reported during the early and mid morning hours. The westbound lanes of Interstate 70 were closed for at least 9 hours due to a crash. A newspaper reported that a local firefighter was killed about 4:30 AM on the US 15 bridge over the Potomac River at Point of Rocks.

Wider weather episode

Areas of dense fog developed across portions of north-central Maryland during the early morning hours of December 31st. Visibilities were often reduced to a quarter mile or less. Temperatures during the overnight hours fell into the lower 30s, causing fog to freeze onto some surfaces. The fog and glaze of ice caused significant travel problems. Over 100 accidents were reported on Interstate 70, US 340 and US 15. One fatality was reported in Frederick County.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 70377. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.