Dense Fog in Missouri, March 12, 2020

Name: Dense Fog in Missouri, March 12, 2020
Start: 2020-03-12T01:00
End: 2020-03-12T08:00
Location: Missouri

March 12, 2020 · NWS PAH · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

Widespread dense fog reduced visibility to one-quarter mile or less. The dense fog occurred along and north of a warm front draped east to west across the region.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 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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Wind
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Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
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Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

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 PAH wrote it up.

Widespread dense fog reduced visibility to one-quarter mile or less. The dense fog occurred along and north of a warm front draped east to west across the region. With the front remaining nearly stationary for much of the morning, the fog was slow to dissipate.

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 Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 11, 11:11 PM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 11, 11:11 PM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 11, 9:04 PM CST, 3 hours 56 minutes before

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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 11, 9:02 PM CST, 3 hours 58 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service PADUCAH KY
1002 PM CDT Wed Mar 11 2020

ILZ075-080-081-084-085-088-089-092>094-KYZ001>006-008-009-MOZ076-
086-087-100-107>112-114-120930-
Jefferson-Perry IL-Franklin-Jackson-Williamson-Union-Johnson-
Alexander-Pulaski-Massac-Fulton-Hickman-Carlisle-Ballard-
McCracken-Graves-Marshall-Calloway-Perry MO-Bollinger-
Cape Girardeau-Wayne MO-Carter-Ripley-Butler-Stoddard-Scott-
Mississippi-New Madrid-
Including the cities of Mount Vernon, Pinckneyville,
West Frankfort, Carbondale, Murphysboro, Herrin, Jonesboro,
Vienna, Cairo, Mound City, Metropolis, Hickman, Clinton,
Bardwell, Wickliffe, Paducah, Mayfield, Benton, Murray,
Perryville, Marble Hill, Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Piedmont,
Van Buren, Doniphan, Poplar Bluff, Bloomfield, Sikeston,
Charleston, and New Madrid
1002 PM CDT Wed Mar 11 2020

...PATCHY DENSE FOG THURSDAY MORNING...

Patchy dense fog will develop across southeast Missouri, far
western Kentucky, and southwest Illinois during the predawn hours
early Thursday morning and linger through the morning commute.
Visibility may be reduced to a half mile or less at times.. If
traveling, be prepared for rapid changes in visibility. Give
yourself extra time to reach your destination and leave plenty of
space between your vehicle and others.

DWS

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 dense fog. Local standard time, as filed.

Dense Fog, Bollinger

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Bollinger forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 37.322, -90.026 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Butler

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 36.716, -90.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Cape Girardeau

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Cape Girardeau forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 37.384, -89.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Carter

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Carter forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.941, -90.962 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Mississippi

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Mississippi forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.828, -89.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, New Madrid

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: New Madrid forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.595, -89.652 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Perry

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 37.707, -89.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Ripley

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Ripley forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.653, -90.864 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Scott

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 37.053, -89.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Stoddard

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Stoddard forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.856, -89.944 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Wayne

When: March 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 37.113, -90.461 (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

Every storm in Missouri in 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Missouri, March 2020

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: 876564, 876565, 876566, 876567, 876568, 876569, 876570, 876571, 876572, 876573, 876574.