UK weather: What is the difference between mist and fog? Why was it misty today?
Tropical humidity in the country has been the cause of torrential downpours and thunderstorms the country has experienced over the last few days. Commuters faced a drug and muggy start on Thursday morning, as humidity continues to plague the country. A cloudy and misty start in place will lead to warm and brighter conditions, however heavy showers and thunderstorms will develop later as torrential rains return. Mist is formed when there is high level of moisture in the air and relative humidity changes, but what is the difference between mist and fog?
What is the difference between mist and fog? The main difference between mist and fog is visibility - how far you can see through it - but both are created by water droplets. When the visibility is less than 1,000 metres then it is fog and if visibility is greater than 1,000 metres then it is mist. The Met Office says: “In our meteorological glossary fog is defined as ‘obscurity in the surface layers of the atmosphere, which is caused by a suspension of water droplets.’ “By international agreement fog is the name given to resulting visibility less than 1km (0.6 miles), however the term in forecasts for the public generally relates to visibility less than 180m.
Getty UK weather: What is the difference between mist and fog?
In contrast, mist is defined by the weather agency as “when there is such obscurity and the associated visibility is equal to or exceeds 1000m. “Like fog, mist is still the result of the suspension of water droplets, but simply at lower density,” the Met Office said. “Mist typically is quicker to dissipate and can rapidly disappear with even slight winds, it’s also when you can see your breath on a cold day.” Fog is denser than mist and tends to last longer, it is formed when any cloud type makes contact with the ground, even if the ground is a hill or mountaintop. Mist is less dense and quicker to dissipate when wind, temperature or relative humidity changes and it can form when there is an abrupt change in temperature, high levels of humidity or from evaporation or condensation.
Getty UK weather: Fog is denser in comparison to mist and lasts longer
Why was it misty today? Humidity in the UK is the cause of the mist we have been experiencing lately and is a measure of the amount of water vapour in the air. According to the latest weather maps, humidity in the UK is between 80-100 percent today, with 100 percent humidity in London. The high levels of humidity has led to the formation of mist, which is formed by water droplets. However as it is less dense compared to fog, it dissipates quickly and does not linger throughout the day.
Getty UK weather: Torrential downpours have plagued the country lately
UK weather in pictures: Dramatic lightning bolts strike Britain Sun, May 27, 2018 Thousands of bolts of lightning lit up Britain last night in a spectacular thunderstorm. Play slideshow Jan Sedlacek / SWNS.com 1 of 13 Bolts of lightning illuminate the skies over Worcestershire