Melting Snow Causes Dense Fog Across Tri-State Region

Rapidly melting snow boosts moisture near the ground, creating perfect conditions for reduced visibility.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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As temperatures rose across the region, melting snow added moisture to the lowest levels of the atmosphere, creating the perfect setup for dense fog. A Dense Fog Advisory has been issued for large portions of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, with visibility expected to drop to one-quarter mile or less.

Why it matters

The combination of warming temperatures and melting snow helped create the thick haze across the tri-state region, leading to hazardous driving conditions and air quality concerns.

The details

Rapidly melting snow boosts moisture near the ground, which can intensify the process of air temperature and dew point becoming nearly the same, leading to relative humidity approaching 100% and tiny water droplets forming and remaining suspended near the ground, reducing visibility. Warm air moving over colder, snow-covered ground can also contribute to this effect, especially when winds are light and the atmosphere is not well mixed.

  • The Dense Fog Advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. Tuesday, February 17 until 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 18.
  • The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for New York City, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester, and Rockland counties until midnight Wednesday night.

The players

National Weather Service

The National Weather Service offices in Mount Holly and New York issued the Dense Fog Advisory on Tuesday afternoon.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an Air Quality Health Advisory due to predicted elevated pollution levels.

Brian Mitchell

The observing program leader with the National Weather Service in Cleveland, who explained the meteorological factors behind the dense fog.

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What they’re saying

“Rapidly melting snow boosts moisture near the ground, which can intensify the process of air temperature and dew point becoming nearly the same, leading to relative humidity approaching 100% and tiny water droplets forming and remaining suspended near the ground, reducing visibility.”

— Brian Mitchell, Observing Program Leader, National Weather Service in Cleveland (Cleveland.com)

What’s next

The Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect through Wednesday morning.

The takeaway

This weather event highlights the impact of rapidly melting snow on local atmospheric conditions, leading to hazardous driving and air quality concerns that require public awareness and precautions.