California, 2016

Dense Fog in California, December 1 to 2, 2016

December 1 to 2, 2016 · NWS HNX · 7 events in 2 counties and zones

Clear skies and cooling temperatures in the wake of a low pressure system which was located over the Four Corners region allowed for radiational nighttime/morning dense fog to develop in parts of the San Joaquin Valley.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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 HNX wrote it up.

Clear skies and cooling temperatures in the wake of a low pressure system which was located over the Four Corners region allowed for radiational nighttime/morning dense fog to develop in parts of the San Joaquin Valley.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Hanford, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 1, 6:36 PM PST, 2 hours 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 1, 6:36 PM PST, 2 hours 59 minutes before
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Event by event

7 dense fog. Local standard time, as filed.

Dense Fog, Se S.J. Valley

When
December 1, 9:35 PM PST to December 2, 5:35 AM PST
Where
Se S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS

Between 2135 PST and 0535 PST the Hanford Municipal Airport (KHJO) ASOS reported visibility less than 1/4 mile.

Dense Fog, Se S.J. Valley

When
December 2, 1:32 AM PST
Where
Se S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported visibilities less than 500 feet between Pixley and Delano along Highway 99.

Dense Fog, E Central S.J. Valley

When
December 2, 2:55 AM PST to 5:35 AM PST
Where
E Central S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS

Between 0255 PST and 0535 PST the Fresno Chandler Airport (KFCH) AWOS reported visibility less than 1/4 mile.

Dense Fog, E Central S.J. Valley

When
December 2, 3:00 AM PST to 10:35 AM PST
Where
E Central S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS

Between 0300 PST and 1035 PST the Merced Regional Airport (KMCE) ASOS reported visibility less than 1/4 mile.

Dense Fog, Se S.J. Valley

When
December 2, 4:25 AM PST to 9:30 AM PST
Where
Se S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS

Between 0425 PST and 0930 PST the Visalia Municipal Airport (KVIS) ASOS reported visibility less than 1/4 mile.

Dense Fog, Se S.J. Valley

When
December 2, 5:38 AM PST
Where
Se S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media

Several school districts cancelling bus service and/or opening late due to dense fog.

Dense Fog, Se S.J. Valley

When
December 2, 7:30 AM PST to 9:40 AM PST
Where
Se S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS

Between 0730 PST and 0940 PST the Porterville Municipal Airport (KPTV) AWOS reported visibility less than 1/4 mile.

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 California in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 2016

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 668934, 668935, 668933, 668932, 668937, 668936, 668938.