It’s Pogonip Season

fog
A pogonip as seen from Antelope Grade

The latest storms residual moisture and lack of wind is the perfect combination for a pogonip, also known as a freezing fog. . A true pogonip is when the fog freezes coating everything with ice crystals. The name is from the Native American community when translated means white death, due to the number of Indians who would contract pneumonia from this weather condition.

There are varying types of pogonips. The most common form is when the high pressure holds down the cloud inversion. Thus, in many instances, one only has to travel a few hundred feet above the valley floor to bask in the sunshine. The pogonip season usually runs through December and January. The longest recorded duration, locally, lasted for six weeks in the winter of 1859-60.

On a final note, the National Weather Service states that there is a storm front headed our way tomorrow. There should be enough winds to break up the inversion, and may be we will see a little sun shine in the afternoon.

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