PORTLAND HARBOR, Maine — As temperatures dropped to just below zero at dawn Wednesday morning, the frigid air, comparatively warm water and rising sun made for a dazzling display of sea smoke.
SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE — 01/22/25 — Seen from South Portland’s Willard Beach, sea smoke envelops Portland Head Light Wednesday morning, Jan. 22, 2025. Sea smoke forms when frigid air mixes with a shallow layer of saturated warm air floating immediately above the ocean. Troy R. Bennett | BDN
Oblivious ducks and gulls paddled and swooped. A pair of tug boats met a barge just off Portland Head Light. A few hearty people and dogs gazed at the natural light show from Willard Beach.
SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE — 01/22/25 — A pair of ducks paddle through a sea smokey Portland Harbor on Wednesday morning, Jan. 22, 2025. Sea smoke forms when frigid air mixes with a shallow layer of saturated warm air floating immediately above the ocean. Troy R. Bennett | BDN
Sea smoke is a kind of fog. It forms when frigid air mixes with a shallow layer of saturated warm air floating immediately above the ocean. The warmer air above the water is then cooled beyond the dew point. At that point, it can no longer hold much water vapor, so the excess condenses out, making sea smoke.
SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE — 01/22/25 — Sea smoke follows a tug boat as it heads out of Portland Harbor on Wednesday morning, Jan. 22, 2025. Sea smoke forms when frigid air mixes with a shallow layer of saturated warm air floating immediately above the ocean. Troy R. Bennett | BDN
The weather will remain cold all week across Maine with highs in the single digits and teens. Lows will continue to dip below zero in many places.
SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE — 01/22/25 — A tug boat makes its way through the sea smoke in Portland Harbor Wednesday morning, Jan. 22, 2025. Sea smoke forms when frigid air mixes with a shallow layer of saturated warm air floating immediately above the ocean. Troy R. Bennett | BDN
