Why fog is hard to predict
Humidity alone isn't enough. Wind alone isn't enough. Cloud cover alone isn't enough. Photogenic valley fog requires several conditions to line up at once, and most weather apps don't read them together.
Dew Point Depression
When air temperature and dew point converge below 2°C, the air is near saturation. This is the single strongest fog predictor and the first thing FogCast checks.
Wind Speed
Fog needs calm air. Below 5 km/h is ideal. Above 15 km/h, fog disperses before it can pool in the valley. A standard weather app won't flag this combination.
Overnight Sky Clarity
Clear overnight skies let the ground cool rapidly, pushing surface temperatures toward the dew point. Counterintuitively, clouds overnight suppress radiation fog.
Temperature Trend
FogCast reads the overnight temperature arc. If temps are converging toward the dew point hour by hour, fog probability increases significantly by pre-dawn.
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Fog photography at Redwood National Park
Redwood National and State Parks on the far northern California coast sit in one of the foggiest zones in the country, and that fog is integral to the ecosystem: the coast redwoods here depend on summer marine layer for a significant portion of their water. The result is towering old-growth forests that exist in a perpetual state of atmospheric mist, with shafts of filtered light and trailing wisps of fog moving through the canopy.
Fern Canyon, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, and the Tall Trees Grove are the most photogenic fog locations in the park. When marine layer sits at canopy height, the light inside the forest becomes extraordinarily diffused, with the fog scattering sunlight evenly and eliminating harsh shadows. The Prairie Creek section has large clearings where fog drifts across open meadows with the forest edge behind.
Summer is peak fog season, from June through September, when Pacific marine layer is most consistent. Fog typically builds overnight and is densest in the early morning hours. The old-growth forest holds mist longer than open terrain, extending the useful photography window past 10am on heavy fog days.
Frequently asked
Can I check FogCast on the website?
This page shows a preview of current conditions, including humidity, wind, temperature, and dew point. The full FogCast score, 7-day outlook, push notifications, and best shooting windows are available exclusively in the LightCast app for iOS.
Is FogCast free?
The current conditions preview on this page is free, no account needed. The full FogCast tool is in the LightCast Suite iOS app, which includes a 7-day free trial. After the trial it's $2.99/month, cancel anytime in the App Store.
Why use FogCast instead of checking humidity?
Humidity alone doesn't tell you whether photogenic fog is likely. High humidity with strong wind produces no fog at all. FogCast combines dew point depression, wind speed, overnight sky clarity, temperature trend, and visibility into a single score built specifically for fog photography planning.
What is FogCast's scoring scale?
FogCast scores fog conditions from 0 to 100. A score of 75 or above indicates dense fog is expected. 55 to 74 means fog is likely and worth chasing. 35 to 54 suggests patchy mist is possible. Below 35, conditions are unlikely to produce photogenic fog. The full score is available in the LightCast app.