Fog along the West Coast of the United States has been documented as far back as the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century. Ship captains in later years learned to take it seriously; 100 years ago when the Marine Exchange in San Francisco was asked what proportion of coastal shipwrecks were the result of fog, the reply was “All of them.” Even today, aircraft pilots at coastal airports find themselves trying to stay on the right side of a very delicate balance between clear blue skies and zero-visibility IFR.
West Coast Fog Monster
Key Takeaways:
- Coastal fog is a frequent and dense occurrence along the US West Coast, particularly from San Francisco to Eureka during summer, forming when moist air cools over cold, upwelled ocean water within a shallow marine atmospheric boundary layer.
- Forecasting coastal fog is highly challenging due to its localized nature, dependence on subtle atmospheric variations, and limitations of conventional tools like radar and often distant inland surface observation networks.
- Pilots must exercise extreme caution, relying on visible satellite imagery and local observations for real-time information, and should be prepared for sudden onset; however, the fog's typically shallow depth often allows for a climb into clear air (VMC) above it.
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