nature, Photography

Mountain Valley Cloud

43 Comments

During late autumn we begin getting a lot of valley cloud that can envelop us for days at a time in a sort of luminous cotton ball.

On average, the Okanagan Valley is about 230 metres (754 ft) deep and during late autumn and winter, a thermal inversion occurs which is a thick, low-lying layer of cloud that stops up the valley like a cork in a bottle.

It typically arrives around now and can be unrelenting until about mid-February. While it protects our wine grapes and fruit trees from the winter low temperatures that most of the rest of the country experiences and usually gives us mild, snowless winters, it can also ground air traffic and impact mental health when the sun is blotted out for weeks on end. 

Although this phenomenon is common wherever deep mountain valleys can be found, the valley floor’s 132 km (82 miles) long Okanagan Lake contributes to the strength of its effects and causes it to be extremely stubborn here in the Okanagan. So, other than visiting a sunny southern country or sitting in front of a sunlight lamp, how do we get a rest from all that cloud?

Well, one thing we do is to visit a ski resort for lunch. We are surrounded by mountains that have a corresponding number of ski hills high enough to be quite far above the valley cloud, so since we don’t ski any more, we go for lunch to enjoy the sun and blue skies. It’s a lovely break from the overcast.

Another thing I find helpful is to look for the remaining autumn colours.

This cotoneaster is brilliant as is the barberry pictured below.

There are also the seasonal lights – coming soon – that brighten these shorter, grey days.

Light decorations on a city park tree, December, 2024.

Although many people are really affected by the grey conditions that usually develop here during the winter, I find that it does have its own beauty.

January, 2025

The clouds themselves as they hang on the sides of the valley and puff over the lake are lustrously pearlescent and their shapes gorgeous, and given how they protect the valley during the coldest months, I think that’s a fair trade-off.

Happy Monday.

43 thoughts on “Mountain Valley Cloud”

    1. Thank you very much, Jo. When we were deciding where to live for our retirement we looked at various communities large and small across the country and yes, all of them had their pros and cons. We knew about the winter cloud here but decided that the mild conditions and other pluses were a good trade-off. Cheers.

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  6. Thank you for explaining more about your area and the clouds and the weather you get. A very interesting read.

    Beautiful photos as always. But I love those trees. 😊

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    1. Thank you very much, Liz. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I find it an interesting weather phenomenon. Yes, those trees aren’t far from us as we are bordered to the east and west by mountains. I love them, too. 😊 Cheers.

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  7. Going to the resort for lunch is a great idea to get a burst of sunshine. While the clouds keep it warmer, I’m notnsure I’d do very well without the sun for that long. Maggie

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    1. Lots of people really don’t like the long overcast periods. Last winter we probably had a sunny day roughly once a week but this year we’re apparently being additionally affected by La Niña, so those sunny breaks might be few and far between. I’m sort of used to this having lived in the NWT where it started snowing on October 31 and didn’t stop for six weeks (lake effect snow) and of course by the time the snow stopped the daylight hours had really dropped off!

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  9. That’s such an amazing set of weather facts, Lynette! Very beautiful too. I see that type of clouds here too at times. It usually happens to the north and west mountains that are higher than the other directions, its lovely!

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    1. Thank you very much, John. Cloudy mountain valleys are very common in the northern hemisphere starting about now so you would see this phenomenon too. The cloudiness can really get to some people but it doesn’t bother me too much. Cheers.

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      1. You are welcome Lynette, as you know I grew up in Michigan which is well known for weeks on end of never seeing the sun.

        Hence, I live 2000 miles southwest where it’s so dry yet we had two days of rain! Much needed rain. 😂

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    1. I have seen the quail going for those berries in late winter/early spring too so yes, it’s a good thing they last so well. I’m thinking that if they’re one of the only berries left then they must not taste very good!

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  11. Seasonal Affective Disorder, aka SAD, is alive and well for those of us in these types of climates. We’re now in the grey and rainy season here too. Well done for looking for ways to cope. Your photos are beautiful as usual.

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    1. Thank you very much, Tricia. When I worked in NWT we had sunlight lamps in every office and room not only because of the short daylight hours but also because October and November have almost non-stop lake effect snow (Great Slave Lake is gigantic – 10th largest in the world – and really affects weather; btw “slave” in this case is derived from an indigenous word) until it becomes cold enough to stop. But by then, the daylight hours are short.
      There were definitely lots of cases of SAD particularly from southerners who don’t realise that it’s not just short winter daylight hours but also a lot of overcast as a lead-in. Some people are terribly affected and quickly leave again for the south.
      Try to take special care of yourself through these grey days, Tricia. Cheers.

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      1. I had no idea about Great Slave Lake, interesting. I remember my first time in Alaska in winter; it was quite a surprise. I hope you take care too; we’ll be taking a trip to Mexico in January, a break in the dead of winter always helps.

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  12. Great post Lynette. I think weather anyplace is what you make of it. If you stay inside and mope about the grey clouds, your view is cloudy. After spending so much time in Vancouver in cloud and rain recently, we have learned to enjoy the views, no matter how dull or bright. Wishing you a great fall and winter season. Allan

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    1. Thank you very much, Allan. I agree. Waiting until the weather is “better” might mean that you never go out! When we were in NWT we had our parkas, hoods and mitts; I walked to work in all kinds of cold weather and fortunately witnessed times when it was brilliantly gorgeous, the sun shining through ice crystals at -40. Now we have umbrellas, raincoats and beautiful cloud formations instead. Yes, you have to take it as it comes. Cheers.

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  14. I agree with your comment about how greyness can have its own beauty. Your pictures help demonstrate that point. And there’s still some colour and light to be found in the grey and darkness. I put up our Christmas lights outside over the weekend to add a bit of brightness to the shorter days.

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    1. Thank you very much, Linda. While out for a ramble today in the rainy overcast I chatted briefly with a woman who was quite enthusiastic about how beautiful the day was and I was reminded again of the beauty within the grey. Yes, I think the Christmas lights really alleviate the early darkness and overcast. Cheers.

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