WILSON, Wyo. — Autumn is making a grand entrance in Jackson Hole this week with cooler temperatures and scenic vistas, including a cloud blanket over the valley this morning due to a temperature inversion.
Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer glimpsed the phenomenon on Tuesday morning coming over Teton Pass.
A temperature inversion, often more visible in the colder months, occurs when the air in the valley is colder than the air above it. This is the result of cold air being denser and heavier than warm air, therefore sinking and filling in lower elevation areas. The National Weather Service notes that valleys sheltered from the wind are an optimal location for rapid cooling.
Inversions make for a dramatic view at higher elevations. Even the Wyoming Department of Transportation webcam positioned at the crest of Teton Pass captured the sight.
Keep an eye out for more clouds trapped by inversions on cool, calm mornings.
