The week started with parts of the Prairies getting covered in dense fog, leading to low visibility that prompted fog advisories from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
While some areas saw it dissipate by Monday afternoon, the risk returns overnight Monday into Tuesday. And then it will reappear Tuesday overnight for some locales.
Prairies fog pre-dawn Tuesday morning
In addition, the fog will likely lead to slippery driving conditions.
“Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility. If travelling, be prepared for areas of near-zero visibility,” ECCC said in the fog advisory.
What is responsible for the multiple occurrences of the fog?
Milder air is moving over the healthy snowpack, cooling and creating fog as the ground cools the air above. Lighter winds will help keep the fog in place, while stronger winds in southern Alberta help keep the region fog-free.
Prairies Tuesday evening temperature pattern
In fact, it will remain very mild through Christmas and the final week of December with temperatures more typical of November––soaring as high as 10 to 20 degrees above seasonal, especially towards Hudson Bay.
Beyond, no major storm systems are expected through the weekend, except for across the Rockies where there will be an abundance of snowfall from the parade of storms tracking into B.C.
However, winter will return during early January––a much-colder pattern is expected to develop during the first few days of the month, and then stick around for much of January with the potential for cross-polar flow and severe cold.
Watch the video preceding the article to get the full details on why the Prairies are shrouded in fog this week.