Freezing Fog
NOAA Storm Events type · 502 records since 1996 · 38 states and territories
The National Weather Service defines freezing fog as: "Fog which freezes on contact with exposed objects and forms a coating of rime and/or glaze, resulting in an impact on transportation, commerce, or individuals." NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 502 freezing fog records from 1996 through June 30, 2026, the most in Georgia (71), with 28 deaths recorded.
How the National Weather Service files freezing fog
Fog which freezes on contact with exposed objects and forms a coating of rime and/or glaze, resulting in an impact on transportation, commerce, or individuals. Even small accumulations of ice can have an impact.
National Weather Service Instruction 10-1605, Storm Data Preparation (July 26, 2021), Appendix A, entry 16
Source: National Weather Service Instruction 10-1605. Read the instruction (PDF).
Freezing Fog, 1996 to 2026
Records per year (2026 to June 30, 2026).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $10 million
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more
- $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
- $10 billion or more, or 1,000 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- Records
- 5021996 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths
- 2875 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $4.7Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Counties with a record
- 365of 3,266
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026. Search the record at NCEI.
Where do freezing fog records happen?
States
Counties
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (forecast-zone records count on every county the zone covers).
When do freezing fog records happen?
82% of its freezing fog records since 1996 fell in December and January. The busiest month is December.
The values, month by month
Jan 153 · Feb 65 · Mar 11 · Apr 0 · May 0 · Jun 0 · Jul 0 · Aug 0 · Sep 0 · Oct 4 · Nov 10 · Dec 259 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
The deadliest freezing fog records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12-01 | Freezing FogSumner County, TN · forecast zone Sumner Areas of freezing fog formed along northern portions of Old Hickory Lake during the morning hours of December 1. This freezing fog caused patches of ice to form on an eastbound curved overpass along Vietnam Veterans Highway at Saundersville Road in Hendersonville. Around 7 AM CST, a chain-reaction vehicular crash ... | 2 | 17 | $656K | |
| 2023-12-16 | Freezing FogMineral County and 2 more, MT · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region Freezing fog led to ice formation on area roadways. Icy roads were likely a contributing factor to a three vehicle collision on Highway 93 near Evaro. The crash resulted in five injuries and two fatalities. | 2 | 5 | $68K | |
| 2023-01-10 | Freezing FogJohnson County, IA · forecast zone Johnson Iowa State Patrol responded to a crash due to ice-covered roads, caused by overnight freezing fog and drizzle. A semi truck driver lost control of their vehicle and jackknifed on Interstate 80, which led to two fatalities and several injuries. Total number of injuries are unknown. 16 total cars were involved in the ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-12-02 | Freezing FogSan Miguel County and 2 more, NM · forecast zone Central Highlands Two people were killed in separate rollover accidents on Interstate 40 near Clines Corners during the morning hours of the 2nd. The first crash occurred around 7 am near exit 218. The second occurred approximately 3 miles east a half an hour later, taking the life of a 70 year-old man. Both drivers lost control due to ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-11-24 | Freezing FogMonroe County, MI · forecast zone Monroe Freezing fog, accompanied by near zero visibilities, created very slippery conditions on area roads. This led to numerous accidents during the morning rush hour traffic. A semi-truck rollover accident at the northbound I-75 and I-275 junction resulted in the death of a person (indirect) at about 0800 EST. The road was ... | 1 | 10 | – | |
| 2013-11-27 | Freezing FogLincoln County and Spokane County, WA · forecast zone Spokane Area Freezing fog resulted in icy conditions on an overpass along Interstate 90 in Medical Lake. A pickup truck heading eastbound was driving too fast for the conditions and lost control. The pickup truck proceeded to swerve into the opposite lane triggering a multiple vehicle collision. One of the vehicles involved in the ... | 1 | 8 | – | |
| 2013-12-31 | Freezing FogMiller County, AR · forecast zone Miller Temperatures fell well below freezing during the predawn hours of December 31st near and along the Red River in Miller County and across portions of Howard County in Southwest Arkansas. The sky was mostly clear and with rather wet soil conditions from previous rainfall...perfect conditions developed for the formation ... | 1 | 5 | $63K | |
| 2023-12-22 | Freezing FogDeer Lodge County and 3 more, MT · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region Freezing fog led to ice formation on area roadways. Icy roads were considered a factor in a fatal crash that occurred on Highway 200 between Lincoln and Ovando. | 1 | 2 | $48K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, deaths direct and indirect as filed.
The most recent freezing fog records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-22 | Freezing FogGraves County, KY · forecast zone Graves | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-21 | Freezing FogScott County, MO · forecast zone Scott | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-21 | Freezing FogBollinger County, MO · forecast zone Bollinger | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-21 | Freezing FogWayne County, MO · forecast zone Wayne | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-17 | Freezing FogMontgomery County, PA · forecast zone Eastern Montgomery | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-17 | Freezing FogChester County, PA · forecast zone Western Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-17 | Freezing FogBucks County, PA · forecast zone Upper Bucks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-17 | Freezing FogNorthampton County, PA · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.