In this article, we will reveal the foggiest city in the US. If you wish to look at our detailed rankings, you can go to the 20 Foggiest Cities in the US.
Foggy weather in the USA varies by region and is influenced by geographical and meteorological factors. In January this year, record levels of fog covered the Lower 48 states. This led to disruptions in flights, vehicle accidents, and delays in school schedules. It had been at least two decades since the United States experienced such dense fog.
A compilation of webcams revealed the fog covered several major cities east of the Rockies, including Nashville, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Dallas, Pittsburgh, New York City, and Chicago. This record-breaking fog outbreak, which persisted for three consecutive days, was primarily due to a storm drawing significant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico over a shallow layer of cooler air left by the Arctic blasts.
Dense fog, as defined by the National Weather Service, reduces visibility to a quarter mile or less for an extended period. Fog is the second leading cause of weather-related aviation accidents, following strong winds. The presence of fog can severely disrupt the operations of the national airspace system, costing up to $200,000 for a single airport. Higher accuracy in forecasting fog events by weather service providers would significantly improve air traffic safety and efficiency.
In 2023, 62% of the year was foggy in many parts of the US, with areas near the sea, like Buffalo, New York, experiencing higher levels of fog. Fog impacts not just the environment but also lifestyles and businesses. Certain companies benefit from weather-related events, including foggy weather. For instance, retailers like The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) often see increased sales as people prepare for adverse weather conditions. The company sells supplies like batteries, generators, and materials needed to prepare homes for bad weather and to repair damage afterward.
Here’s what Madison Investments said about The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) in its Q3 2023 investor letter:
“We updated the sustainable scorecard for The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) and maintained our Above Average Rating. Home Depot’s corporate responsibilities focus on three pillars: focusing on its people, operating sustainably, and strengthening its communities. Home Depot continues to focus on its people by investing billions of dollars in wages, training, and benefit enhancement. The company’s environmental targets include the reduction of direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) emissions by 42% by 2030, as well as a 25% decrease in emissions related to the “use of products sold” (Scope 3 emissions). Both targets are from a 2020 base year.
Separately, The Home Depot Foundation announced that it will invest $6 million in skilled trades training to address the 400,000 job openings across the construction industry. This grant launches a new program that will provide free, skilled trades training and scholarships for veterans and military families.”
Our Methodology
We have compiled a list of the 20 foggiest cities in the US based on the average number of days with fog per year. The data has been sourced from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The 20 foggiest cities in the US have been ranked in ascending order of their average number of foggy days per year.
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The Foggiest City in the US
New Orleans, Louisiana
Average Number of Days with Fog = 200
New Orleans, located in Louisiana secures the first position on our list of the foggiest cities in the US. The city experiences an average of 200 foggy days annually. The city also sees 118 days per year when the sky is partially covered with clouds. New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by frequent partly cloudy conditions. Around 40-50% of the sky is typically covered with clouds throughout the year.
In October last year, the city experienced what the National Weather Service described as “super fog.” This was a mix of heavy smoke from fires in the marshy areas of southern Louisiana and the dense fog that often forms on cool, still mornings. Smoke from a marsh fire east of New Orleans mixed with thick fog and reduced the visibility on highways. This led to a series of severe crashes, transforming a portion of Interstate 55 near New Orleans into a scene of wrecked vehicles. Authorities reported that 158 vehicles were involved in this accident and it led to 25 injuries.
Discover which city secured the second spot. You can visit 20 Foggiest Cities in the US here.
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