Dense Fog — Sw S.j. Valley, California

2008-02-11 to 2008-02-12 · Sw S.j. Valley, California

Wider weather episode

A tranquil weather pattern set in behind the storm from the 2nd and 3rd of February. An upper-level ridge of high pressure built into California on the 8th. The stable airmass combined with surface moisture from the earlier rains for the development of dense fog during the night of February 8th-9th. After a brief respite from the fog on the 10th, dense fog returned the next two nights. A 10-15 car pileup occurred on the morning of the 11th near Kerman west of Fresno, where there were no injuries, and newspaper accounts of only minor property damages. However, the fog was a major factor in a series of chain-reaction accidents on Highway 99 near Kingsburg during the morning of February 12th. At least four separate accidents occurred, involving at least 40 vehicles and resulting in at an estimated 10 people being injured.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 84914. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.