Jordan | What is the valley fog that formed in the morning in some southern areas of the Kingdom?

Arab Weather - The valley fog phenomenon formed this morning, Saturday 10/5/2024, in the Wadi Musa area due to a combination of favorable weather conditions. According to specialists at the Arab Weather Center, valley fog occurs when the air near the Earth's surface cools significantly at night as a result of losing heat through radiation, which leads to a drop in its temperature to the dew point (the point at which water vapor condenses in the air and forms small droplets of water suspended in the air).

The chances of this type of fog forming increase in valleys and low-lying areas such as Wadi Musa in the south of the Kingdom due to the accumulation of cold air in the valleys as a result of its descent from the mountain slopes due to its increased density and heaviness compared to the surrounding air, which leads to the accumulation of moisture and a further decrease in temperature. This fog causes a significant decrease in horizontal visibility, which may reach less than 200 meters in some areas.

Valley fog is common in the fall and winter, especially on clear nights with calm winds, when there are no strong air currents that prevent fog formation. This type of fog usually lasts until the late morning hours, when the air begins to warm up from the sun's rays, which gradually causes it to dissipate.