Storm hazard · NOAA Storm Events Database
Freezing Fog in the United States
National statistics for freezing fog events from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015–2025): how often they occur, where they hit hardest, and the human and property toll.
- 133
- Events recorded
- 11
- Fatalities
- $700.0K
- Property damage
- 26
- States affected
How dangerous are Freezing Fog events in the U.S.?
NOAA's Storm Events Database has catalogued 133 freezing fog events across 26 states and territories between 2015 and 2025. The cumulative human toll is 11 fatalities and 25 injuries, and the financial footprint reaches $700.0K in combined property ($700.0K) and crop ($0) damage. On a per-fatality basis this places freezing fog events at a moderate severity tier relative to other tracked hazard types in the NOAA catalog.
The geographic footprint is uneven across the country. The three states absorbing the largest share of events are AL (18 events, 0 fatalities), KY (15 events, 0 fatalities), IL (12 events, 0 fatalities), largely a function of local terrain and settlement patterns rather than any single cause. At the other end, states such as IA, AR, MN report far fewer events, a sign of lower exposure, though absence of a recorded event is not proof of zero risk.
Year-over-year trends reveal the event's volatility. The peak year on record was 2023, logging 33 events and $175.0K in property damage in a single calendar year. The most recent year in the dataset is 2025 with 22 events recorded. Across the full 11-year window, annual event counts reflect ordinary seasonal variability more than any clear multi-year trend.
How to interpret this data
NOAA storm event data is filed by local National Weather Service forecast offices, so reporting intensity can vary by jurisdiction and should be interpreted alongside FEMA disaster declarations for a fuller picture.
For household and business preparedness, this state-and-year view should be paired with local-level FEMA National Risk Index ratings, flood-zone maps where applicable, and up-to-date NWS watch/warning information, population exposure and asset value matter as much as raw event frequency for estimating real-world risk.
Freezing Fog by State
| # | State | Events | Fatalities | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama AL | 18 | 0 | $0 |
| 2 | Kentucky KY | 15 | 0 | $90.0K |
| 3 | Illinois IL | 12 | 0 | $0 |
| 4 | Indiana IN | 10 | 0 | $0 |
| 5 | Tennessee TN | 10 | 0 | $0 |
| 6 | Idaho ID | 7 | 2 | $10.0K |
| 7 | Wyoming WY | 6 | 0 | $0 |
| 8 | South Dakota SD | 6 | 0 | $0 |
| 9 | Missouri MO | 6 | 1 | $20.0K |
| 10 | California CA | 6 | 0 | $0 |
| 11 | North Dakota ND | 5 | 0 | $385.0K |
| 12 | Oregon OR | 5 | 1 | $0 |
| 13 | South Carolina SC | 4 | 0 | $0 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania PA | 4 | 0 | $0 |
| 15 | Montana MT | 4 | 3 | $170.0K |
| 16 | Washington WA | 4 | 1 | $10.0K |
| 17 | New Mexico NM | 2 | 0 | $0 |
| 18 | Arizona AZ | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| 19 | Maryland MD | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| 20 | Nevada NV | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| 21 | Colorado CO | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| 22 | Texas TX | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| 23 | Oklahoma OK | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| 24 | Iowa IA | 1 | 2 | $0 |
| 25 | Arkansas AR | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| 26 | Minnesota MN | 1 | 1 | $15.0K |
Freezing Fog by Year
| Year | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | 0 | 6 | $0 |
| 2024 | 5 | 2 | 1 | $20.0K |
| 2023 | 33 | 5 | 12 | $175.0K |
| 2022 | 6 | 2 | 0 | $0 |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 | 0 | $385.0K |
| 2020 | 13 | 1 | 2 | $0 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 0 | $90.0K |
| 2018 | 18 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 1 | 4 | $20.0K |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 | 0 | $10.0K |
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many freezing fog events have occurred in the US?
Which states are most affected by freezing fog events?
How much damage do freezing fog events cause?
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Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (2015-2025) NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (2015-2025) For informational purposes only
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on FEMA federal disaster data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or national statistics report, or report a data error.