California, 2021

Dense Fog in California, November 21 to 22, 2021

November 21 to 22, 2021 · NWS HNX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

Another night of clear skies, light winds and inversion conditions resulted in widespread dense fog forming in the San Joaquin Valley during the evening of November 21 into the early morning of November 22. The fog persisted over a widespread area until late morning when it lifted into a low clouds deck which eroded during the afternoon.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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
$80,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

Another night of clear skies, light winds and inversion conditions resulted in widespread dense fog forming in the San Joaquin Valley during the evening of November 21 into the early morning of November 22. The fog persisted over a widespread area until late morning when it lifted into a low clouds deck which eroded during the afternoon. The fog resulted in at least three major vehicular accidents in the San Joaquin Valley during the morning of November 22.

The radar

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

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Event by event

8 dense fog. Local standard time, as filed.

Dense Fog, Visalia - Porterville - Reedley

When
November 21, 10:40 PM PST to November 22, 11:45 AM PST
Where
Visalia - Porterville - Reedley forecast zone
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
36.489, -119.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility below a quarter mile was reported in Visalia and Porterville. Several webcams showed visibility below 1000 feet. California Highway Patrol reproted a fog realted crash involving a big rig carrying milk on SR 184 near the intersection of SR 99 south of Tulare.

Dense Fog, Hanford - Corcoran - Lemoore

When
November 21, 11:05 PM PST to November 22, 12:35 PM PST
Where
Hanford - Corcoran - Lemoore forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
36.351, -119.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility below a quarter mile was reported in Hanford. Several webcams showed visibility below 1000 feet. California Highway Patrol reported visibility between 700 and 1000 feet on SR 198 between SR 43 and 19th Ave as well as a fog related 3 vehicle accident involving a big rig and two cars on westbound SR 198 at the intersection of 2nd Ave. that resulted in a closure of westbound SR 198 during the late morning hours.

Dense Fog, Bakersfield

When
November 21, 11:20 PM PST to November 22, 7:30 AM PST
Where
Bakersfield forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility below a quarter mile was reported in Bakersfield. Several webcams showed visibility below 1000 feet.

Dense Fog, Caruthers - San Joaquin - Selma

When
November 22, 1:00 AM PST to 12:00 PM PST
Where
Caruthers - San Joaquin - Selma forecast zone
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
36.489, -119.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several webcams showed visibility below 1000 feet. California Highway Patrol reported a fog related accident involving a white van that collided with a power pole on South McMullin Grade northeast of Manning Ave. near Raisin City. Power lines were knocked down as a result of the accident.

Dense Fog, Fresno - Clovis

When
November 22, 1:05 AM PST to 11:55 AM PST
Where
Fresno - Clovis forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
36.758, -119.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility below a quarter mile was reported in Fresno. Several webcams showed visibility below 1000 feet.

Dense Fog, Delano - Wasco - Shafter

When
November 22, 1:55 AM PST to 10:55 AM PST
Where
Delano - Wasco - Shafter forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
35.879, -119.115 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility below a quarter mile was reported in Delano. Several webcams showed visibility below 1000 feet.

Dense Fog, Merced-Madera-Mendota

When
November 22, 2:05 AM PST to 11:10 AM PST
Where
Merced-Madera-Mendota forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
37.056, -120.043 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility below a quarter mile was reported in Atwater, Merced and Madera. Several webcams showed visibility below 1000 feet.

Dense Fog, West Side of Fresno and Kings Counties

When
November 22, 7:33 AM PST to 8:17 AM PST
Where
West Side of Fresno and Kings Counties forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
36.417, -119.732 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility below a quarter mile was reported in Lemoore. Several webcams showed visibility below 1000 feet.

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 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in California, November 2021

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 986430, 986428, 986432, 986425, 986426, 986427, 986422, 986423.