Ice fog is almost always present at air temperatures of -45°C in the vicinity of a source of water vapor. Such sources of water vapor are the open water of fast-flowing streams or of the sea, herds of animals, volcanoes, and especially products of combustion for heating, automobiles, and aircraft. At temperatures warmer than -30°C, these sources can cause steam fog of liquid water droplets, which may turn into ice fog when cooled.

Over the frozen Arctic Ocean and along the coastal areas, blowing snow, drifting snow, and strong winds are common hazards during autumn and winter. Blowing snow is wind-driven falling or accumulated snow that reduces surface visibility. Drifting snow is an uneven distribution of snowfall or snow depth caused by strong surface winds, which may occur during or after a snowfall. Drifting snow is usually associated with blowing snow. In the Arctic, because the snow is dry and fine, it can be picked up easily by light winds that raise the snow several feet off the ground, obliterating objects. A sudden increase in surface wind may cause an unlimited visibility to drop to near zero in a few minutes. This sudden loss of visibility occurs frequently without warning in the Arctic.

Frost is the formation of thin ice crystals on the ground or other surfaces on solid objects below the freezing point of water. It develops in Arctic coastal areas during spring, autumn, and winter.

Whiteout is a visibility-restricting phenomenon that occurs most often in the spring and autumn in the Arctic when the Sun is near the horizon. It occurs when a layer of overcast clouds overlies a snow- or ice-covered surface. Parallel rays of the Sun are broken up and diffused when passing through the cloud layer so that they strike the snow surface from many angles. The diffused light then reflects back and forth countless times between the snow and the cloud, eliminating all shadows. The result is a loss of depth perception. Buildings, people, and dark-colored objects appear to float in the air, and the horizon disappears.