A Fog Advisory is in effect this morning across the Central Plains, Interlake, Pembina and Red River Valleys regions with near-zero visibility occurring in many spots. The fog is thick and shifting, meaning it could be fairly clear in one section while just down the road visibility is very poor.
According to Environment Canada, dense fog has been reported through a large area this morning including the Portage, Carman, Gimli, Winkler, Altona, Morris, and Steinbach areas. There are also many sections on the Trans-Canada highway between Portage and Winnipeg where the fog is making it much more difficult to see compared to a regular day.
The fog will lift later today, but will likely redevelop tonight.
"For the last few days, and continuing for most of the remainder of this week, an upper-level flow of warm, moist Pacific air is being set across the Prairies as the Jet Stream moves generally west to east," explained CMOS Accredited Weathercaster Chris Sumner. "That warm air aloft, moving overtop the cold, snowy ground, has played a role in the development of the fog we see this morning, as well as what we'll more than likely see a couple more times this week. Also at play is the nearly calm conditions. A lack of wind also allows the fog to hang around, rather than be blown out of the area."
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Sumner noted the generally warm conditions are currently projected to last through the weekend, with temperatures a few degrees above seasonal today through Sunday. Average daytime highs for the start of January are -12, with overnight lows around -22. Highs for the next five days will range between -5 and -8, with lows between -10 and -14.