Like the other guy said, you were very lucky & got some compensation after all since it was due to the weather which affected your travel plan but not the airlines's & their own fault, technical or non-technical.
Like what I just experienced on my travel in & out NRT right on Mar 11, no compensation from NH & SQ plus my travel insurance at all. Which they all mentioned if it is something disaster like / Force Majeur which is beyond their control, it won't be cover in any compensation.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/16086601-post8.html
For foggy weather, earthquake which are something that I can't predict nor avoid during traveling. But for typhoon, volcano ash, others that which can be predictable from the weather forecast or news, usually I will check it very closely with my departure date to see whether I shall amend my travel either + 1 or 2 days in order to avoid the snowball effect after all with all the stranded passengers in the terminal.