Seeing Thick Fog At The Jersey Shore? Here's Why

JERSEY SHORE — Amid New Jersey's heat wave, many have sought relief by escaping to the shore, which is noticeably cooler. But they found they could barely see in front of them, thanks to layers of thick, heavy fog along the coastline.

The state has felt sticky and soupy these past few days due to the heat and humidity. But that steamy air does more than just make it uncomfortable to even walk out your front door. It's also a factor in why the fog is so prevalent at the shore.

Meteorologists say that it's a clash of airmasses. It has a lot do with upwelling, which is when warm ocean water is pushed to the bottom and the cold water comes to the top. This is also why the water has looked almost tropical at many Jersey Shore beaches lately.

There's not enough wind to stir up the air, according to local meteorologist NorEasterNick. He shared on social media that condensation forms because the air temperatures and dew points have been close to the same. Then, the cold ocean temperatures and the hot land temperatures clash.

It's not uncommon to see fog at the shore, particularly in the early mornings. But this fog has lingered, sparking dense fog advisories along New Jersey's coastal communities.

National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Gorse told NJ Advance Media that the fog has been staying through the day because of how intense the heat and how high the humidity has been compared to how cold the ocean is.

Some areas have visibility reduced to a quarter of a nautical mile or less, according to the National Weather Service. Advisories are in place through 4 p.m. Wednesday at shore areas.