Clouds on the ground

Last night was an amazing weather night here at the Huttner Weather Lab.

There was no big wind, or lightning or blowing snow, but a quiet storm of sorts.

As I stepped outside around 9pm I noticed the sky above had cleared. A bright moon and stars visible were above. Near the ground, thickening fog draped the landscape and hung like a wet blanket. It was classic ground fog.

This radiation fog typically covers the ground on clear calm nights when moisture is high. As heat radiates from the ground upwards, the air cool to the dew point. The fog can lay in valleys, or move ever so slightly in a light breeze as it did last night. The fog layer seemed to be only 50 to 100 feet thick.

This quiet storm was a sight to behold. As the fog thickened with the bright moon above, in the stillness I could hear the sound. Drip, drip drip. Condensation from the trees falling as drops from 50 feet to the ground with a splat.

Weather never ceases to amaze me. And last night is proof that sometimes the quiet storms are the best.

PH