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 along the U.S. West Coast is a common and historical challenge for aviation, peaking in summer, forming when moist air cools over cold, upwelled ocean water under the influence of a high-pressure system that reinforces an inversion.
- Forecasting its onset and intensity is complex due to its small-scale variations and limitations of standard observation tools like radar and inland METARs; forecasters and pilots often rely on specialized data such as offshore dewpoints and satellite imagery.
- For pilots, coastal fog is typically shallow and anchored to the sea, meaning a climb often gets above it, but careful pre-flight planning for alternates further inland and heightened vigilance at night are crucial.
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