Where does the fog come from in San Francisco?
This type of fog forms when humid air from the Pacific Ocean swoops over the chilly California wind current flowing parallel to the coast. The fog stays low to the ground and then the warm, moist air condenses as it moves across the San Francisco Bay or nearby land. This is common near any coastline.
Is fog common in San Francisco?
In San Francisco, fog is most common during the summer due to a combination of environmental conditions that cause wind patterns and ocean currents in the North Pacific to play off one another. A different type of fog—tule fog—forms in San Francisco during the winter due to a separate set of meteorological conditions.
What do the locals call the fog in San Francisco?
Karl
Countless weather presenters and SF residents affectionately refer to the fog as Karl. In January of 2020, Karl the Fog went silent on Twitter and Instagram.
Why does the SF Bay Area have lots of fog?
Although fog can occur sporadically year-round, it mainly blankets the coastal Bay Area in the summer when hot inland temperatures create a low-pressure zone over Northern California’s Central Valley. The hot inland air rises and the heavier cold ocean air rushes in to replace it.
How long does fog last in San Francisco?
Fog can be seen in San Francisco Bay pretty dependably starting in June and lasting through August. The fog usually rolls in during the early morning, then burns off by the afternoon, revealing sunny, clear skies, until it returns again in the evening.
What is the foggiest month in San Francisco?
What is the Foggiest Month in San Francisco? The warmer summer months of June through August are the foggiest time in San Francisco. However, the foggiest overall month is probably June. Golden City locals sometimes refer to a “June gloom,” referring to the damp, cool, fog-laden days of early summer.
Why does SF call the fog Karl?
In 2010 an anonymous person began a Twitter account for the San Francisco fog, inspired by the fake BP public relations account that appeared after the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that year, and named “Karl the Fog” after the misunderstood giant in the 2003 film Big Fish.
Why is fog called Carl?
Another Bay Curious listener, Mark Ling, asked: Why is @KarltheFog named Karl the Fog? The name Karl is a reference to the 2003 film “Big Fish.” The creator told SF Weekly that Karl was the giant everyone was afraid of because they thought he would kill or eat them, when in fact he was just hungry and lonely.