NZ Weather Forum

Was just wondering if the phenomenon we are experiencing today is a form of sea fog/advective fog?
Does anyone know what it is/what the meteorological term is for it? Was asked today and I don't know...
I know it is VERY similar to the "sea fog" (as the locals called it) that we got in Monterrey, California (south of San Fransisco) when I lived there. Started off cloudy, "burned off"/cleared very quickly to a lovely sunny and warm day, but you could see the fog bank just hanging off the coast, and the fog would return at night, often quite quickly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_fog

There is a REALLY good example of it happening today in CHCH...nice warm day, but RIGHT at the coast there is a nice "wall" of fog, which will more than likely move inland as the day cools and evening comes...

Many thanks in advance, guys!

Yup seems like Advective fog to me.
Where moist air has drifted into a cool environment (eg: cool sea temps) and winds blowing it into land.

Sea fog or Valley Fog are both types of Advective Fog.

Hope this helps.

No probs Glen, happy to help

Good view of it from the hill above Little Akaloa on Banks Peninsula. Earlier today it had also filled the bay.

Source: http://www.andi.co.nz/

Where moist air has drifted into a cool environment (eg: cool sea temps)

Yes, quite a moist flow for that part of NZ today, 13C dewpoints for Christchurch .

The sea fog is typical for this time of year when we start getting the subtropical moisture coming down and the sea temperatures are still cold.

Fog? Never saw a scrap of it in the CBD or at home in Cracroft. lovely warm day. Who'd live in the eastern suburbs huh?

Many thanks for the replies, guys!
(and yes, the fog never eventuated in the evening, but never mind...)