Pogonip Season Is Here

fog
A pogonip as seen from Antelope Grade

Over the last couple of days a pogonip had been trying to form over the region. So far we have had two of three contributing factors. High pressure over the region forcing a persistent cloud cover to near the valley floor, and some 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 weak storm front headed our way today. 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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