12 



and it is not unknown in this month for fogs to last 3 to 6 

 days with only a 1 to 2 hour break near midday. 



A low overcast with ceilings less than 1,000 feet but over 

 500 feet, and visibilities less than three miles is equally 

 common o An average of 23% of the mornings and 18% of the 

 afternoons have such an overcast. The stratus is continuous 

 throughout a 24 hour period 12% of the time. These overcasts 

 are seldom the result of fog lifting, but may precede a 

 heavy fog. Although all-day overcasts do occur, as noted, 

 the more common condition is for the stratus to "break" near 

 midday, resulting in broken or clear skies. Scattered clouds 

 are rare during any part of the year over waters of the 

 continental shelf. 

 February through July 



February marks the beginning of a trend in the decrease 

 in the occurrence of fog. The decrease continues through 

 July, and in the months of March, June, and July the occurrence 

 of fog is negligible. April and May have a slight increase, 

 particularly in the morning hours, but the increase is minor 

 amounting to only two days. Fog during this part of the year 

 is primarily a morning condition and normally dissipates late 

 in the forenoon. In late April and early May, no fog has been 

 recorded in the afternoon and in the entire months of March, 

 June, and July no fog lasts throughout a 24 hour period. The 

 maximum fog conditions in this part of the year occur in 

 February and May when 12 and 9 per cent of the days, respec- 

 tively, have fog during the morning hours. 



