Kentucky, 2016

Dense Fog in Kentucky, December 25, 2016

December 25, 2016 · NWS JKL · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Abundant moisture and light winds led to the development of patchy dense fog near Cranston, north of Morehead, on Christmas evening. This partially resulted in a two vehicle accident on Kentucky Highway 377, as visibilities were reduced to below one mile, with localized areas of below one quarter of a mile.

Where it happened

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The toll

Deaths
1
Injuries
2
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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 JKL wrote it up.

Abundant moisture and light winds led to the development of patchy dense fog near Cranston, north of Morehead, on Christmas evening. This partially resulted in a two vehicle accident on Kentucky Highway 377, as visibilities were reduced to below one mile, with localized areas of below one quarter of a mile. One driver was killed, while their passenger as well as the driver of the vehicle who crossed the center line were injured.

The radar

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

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Event by event

1 dense fog. Local standard time, as filed.

Dense Fog, Rowan

When
December 25, 6:30 PM EST
Where
Rowan forecast zone
Deaths
0 direct, 1 indirect
Injuries
0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
38.196, -83.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Social media and several media outlets reported a two vehicle accident on Kentucky Highway 377 near Cranston, north of Morehead. Visibilities were reduced to below one mile, with localized areas of below one quarter of a mile.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Dense Fog, Rowan2016-12-2559MaleVehicle/Towed TrailerIndirect

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 Kentucky in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, 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: 663723.