Pennsylvania, 2023

Dense Fog and Freezing Fog in Pennsylvania, March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023 · NWS PHI · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

Radiational cooling under high pressure combined with lingering low-level moisture from recent precipitation resulted in several hours of dense freezing fog across eastern Pennsylvania early on March 1st. The fog dissipated shortly after sunrise.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 PHI wrote it up.

Radiational cooling under high pressure combined with lingering low-level moisture from recent precipitation resulted in several hours of dense freezing fog across eastern Pennsylvania early on March 1st. The fog dissipated shortly after sunrise.

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 Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 28, 9:10 PM EST, 2 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 9:10 PM EST, 2 hours 50 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 28, 11:14 PM EST, 46 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 28, 10:14 PM EST, 1 hour 46 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 dense fog, 3 freezing fog. Local standard time, as filed.

Dense Fog, Berks

When
March 1, 12:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Berks forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
40.416, -75.926 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours of dense freezing fog was observed at Reading Regional Airport.

Dense Fog, Lehigh

When
March 1, 12:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Lehigh forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
40.613, -75.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours of dense freezing fog was observed at Queen City Airport.

Dense Fog, Carbon

When
March 1, 12:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Carbon forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
40.918, -75.709 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours of dense freezing fog was observed at Lehighton Airport.

Freezing Fog, Berks

When
March 1, 12:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Berks forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
40.416, -75.926 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours of dense freezing fog was observed at Reading Regional Airport.

Freezing Fog, Lehigh

When
March 1, 12:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Lehigh forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
40.613, -75.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours of dense freezing fog was observed at Queen City Airport.

Freezing Fog, Carbon

When
March 1, 12:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Carbon forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
40.918, -75.709 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours of dense freezing fog was observed at Lehighton Airport.

What these are

Dense Fog
Fog reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less, filed where it caused accidents or disruption.
Freezing Fog
Fog that froze on contact with roads, vehicles or structures.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, March 2023

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: 1080540, 1080541, 1080542, 1080543, 1080544, 1080545.