Extensive fog blankets SA causing flight delays at Adelaide Airport as subzero temperatures return

Fog blanketed parts of SA on Wednesday morning causing flight delays. To add to the chaos, the east coast’s wild weather also led to the cancellation of flights into Adelaide.

Heavy fog in Nairne, in the Adelaide Hills, on Wednesday morning. Picture: Supplied

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Extensive fog blanketed parts of South Australia in Wednesday morning as subzero temperatures return across the state.

The second day of month brought the winter chill again, just a day after the July opener saw Adelaide record its coldest morning of the year.

On Tuesday, the city’s West Tce station recorded a minimum of 2.9C.

The city’s minimum temperature on Wednesday was not quite as low, with 5.6C recorded on the way to a predicted top of 14C.

Fog in Nairne, in the Adelaide Hills, on Wednesday morning. It also blanketed many other parts of SA, causing flight delays. Picture: Supplied

Heavy fog over Adelaide CBD on Sunday. Fog returned on Wednesday morning. Picture: Cathy Davis

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jenny Horvat told ABC radio that the morning fog blanketed many parts of the state.

“We’ve had a bit of low level moisture lingering and with that high pressure system keeping relatively calm has been conducive for that fog formation being so extensive and will hang around well into the morning before we start seeing that clear off,” she said earlier.

Ms Horvat said the fog ranged from the Adelaide metropolitan area to the coastal border in the Gulf, the Mid North, out to the north and south of the North East Pastoral District.

Henley Beach jetty during a morning of heavy fog over Adelaide. Picture: Mark Brake

Fog was also expected through the Riverland, Murraylands and down to Mount Gambier and on the eastern Eyre Peninsula.

Regional areas dropped below zero across South Australia on Wednesday morning with Yunta hitting -3.4C and Clare, Renmark and Ceduna all dropping below zero.

A flight from Melbourne on Wednesday was directed back due to the low visibility while a flight from Bali was forced to circle before landing, causing a 20 minute delay.

Adelaide Airport’s executive general manager, Dermot O’Neill, said the fog descended about 3.30am but had dissipated by about 6.30am.

It comes as wild weather in Sydney has seen flights out of the harbour city to Adelaide cancelled, with Qantas flight QF731 and Jetstar JQ760 services due to land in SA canned.

The return services have also been cancelled.