Valley fog on way out

Photo: Castanet Staff

Fog that has disrupted air travel at Kelowna International Airport the past several days could be on the way out.

Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa Coldwells says the inversion that has gripped the Valley could break up later today.

Coldwells says the inversion was caused by a large-scale upper ridge that has been sitting over the province since a massive snowstorm hit the region more than two weeks ago.

"With the temperatures that are just hovering above zero, there has been a lot of melting going on and a lot of moisture," says Coldwells.

"As the remnants of the snow continues to melt, the moisture can't go anywhere... so it just turns into low-level fog and the low cloud that has been hanging around the Valley."

To get out of the inversion and the low cloud cover, Coldwells says some sort of atmospheric event is needed to "stir things up."

"That might actually happen this afternoon. We have an upper cold front that's going to cross over the mountains, and there could be just enough mixing in the afternoon there is a chance of having a few more sunny breaks."

While Coldwells doesn't expect the cold front to bring frigid Arctic temperatures with it, she says Okanagan temperatures should fall back to seasonal norms of slightly above zero for a high and slightly below zero for a low.

At the airport, spokesperson Jenelle Hynes said three flights were cancelled this morning due to last night’s fog.

The heavy fog prevented Air Canada, Alaska Airlines and WestJet flights from landing that would have departed to Vancouver, Seattle and Fort McMurray, respectively, early today.

Currently, “visibility is great,” she said about 9 a.m.

Check the status of your flight at http://www.kelowna.ca/cm/page68.aspx/