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Unseasonable phenomenon: A sea of fog arrives in Devon

08:00
27 June 2023

Unseasonable phenomenon
A sea of fog arrives in Devon

Sea fogYou're not looking at a cloud captured on a mountain, but a sea covered in thick fog in Torbay, Devon. - © Zsolt Goldman

A sea of rolling fog took over in Devon this weekend, creating a mystical scene.

In the image, submitted by Weather & Radar user Zsolt Goldman, we see the approaching sea fog as it appears to creep towards land in Torbay.

Sea fog, known also as haar in the UK and Ireland, forms under certain conditions and is best observed between late winter and late spring, but can appear at other times as seen.

Sea fog affecting large stretches of the Ligurian coast in March.

Spring offers the best chance of the fog forming. During the season, seawater reaches its lowest temperatures, while warmer air moving in becomes more common.

Sea fog requires the movement of a warm air mass over a cold sea surface.

The warm air passing over this colder surface then cools and condenses, like when a person breathes warm air onto cold glass, forming a dense layer of fog or low cloud.

If there is a strong anticyclone (high pressure system) in place, which suppresses convection and forces air to subside, the fog that forms will be more robust.

Spotted something that looks a little weird? Or just a glorious summer view? We love all your pictures. Send in your own by using our uploader.

Ryan Hathaway
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