Wisconsin, 2001

Dense Fog in Wisconsin, May 17, 2001

May 17, 2001 · NWS MKX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Winds off of Lake Michigan pulled moist air inland that led to dense fog formation after several hours of nighttime radiational cooling. Visibilities were zero to 1/8 mile near the shoreline, and 1/8 to 1/4 mile inland.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MKX wrote it up.

Winds off of Lake Michigan pulled moist air inland that led to dense fog formation after several hours of nighttime radiational cooling. Visibilities were zero to 1/8 mile near the shoreline, and 1/8 to 1/4 mile inland. About a dozen vehicle accidents were noted. Local airplane traffic was also delayed until the fog burned off.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

3 dense fog. Local standard time, as filed.

Dense Fog, Sheboygan

When
May 17, 12:00 AM CST to 6:30 AM CST
Where
Sheboygan forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
43.756, -87.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Washington

When
May 17, 12:00 AM CST to 6:30 AM CST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
43.369, -88.231 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Ozaukee

When
May 17, 12:00 AM CST to 6:30 AM CST
Where
Ozaukee forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
43.403, -87.891 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Dense Fog
Fog reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less, filed where it caused accidents or disruption.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, May 2001

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5248216, 5248217, 5248218.