A sudden change in weather caught many residents along the Vega Baja coastline by surprise on Monday afternoon. After a bright and sunny morning, a dense sea fog moved in rapidly from the Mediterranean, covering beaches and nearby areas within minutes.
The fog pushed a few hundred metres inland, significantly lowering temperatures and increasing humidity. Although dramatic, the phenomenon is typical at this time of year when stable anticyclonic conditions dominate.
Known as advection fog, it forms when warm, moist air moves over a cooler surface, in this case the Mediterranean Sea. As the air cools on contact, water vapour condenses, creating thick and persistent fog.
The conditions even produced a rare fog bow and an eerie coastal landscape. Images shared by residents and local weather groups, including MeteOrihuela and Proyecto Mastral, showed scenes from Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Guardamar del Segura.
This article was written with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor before publication.