Dense fog has blanketed Auckland this morning, cancelling two dozen domestic flights and sending the sound of foghorns echoing across the city's waterfront.
In an update at 8.10am, Auckland Airport said fog restrictions remained in place, with disruptions growing as the morning progressed.
A total of 11 departing domestic flights had been cancelled — to Wellington, Christchurch (two flights), Napier (two), Queenstown, Nelson, Palmerston North, Taupo, Gisborne, and New Plymouth — while a further Queenstown departure had been delayed.
Eleven arriving domestic flights were also cancelled — from Christchurch (three), Wellington, Napier (two), Palmerston North (two), New Plymouth, Taupo, and Gisborne — while a Tauranga arrival had been delayed and a Wellington flight diverted.
International flights were not affected.
Auckland Airport encouraged passengers to check its website for the latest flight arrival and departure information.
Live traffic cameras showed dense fog covering the city's major motorways.
Ferry services between downtown Auckland and Waiheke Island were also hit, with Fullers360 warning that six morning sailings — the 8am, 9am and 10am services in both directions — faced potential delays until the fog cleared.
The fog prompted reactions from residents across the city, with some on social media reporting that the sound of foghorns could be heard as far away as West Harbour.
One observer on social media described the fog as roughly 100m thick, rolling out over the ocean as temperatures continued to drop.
The post went on to describe this morning's coverage as "absolutely crazy".
According to MetService, Auckland Airport averages 19.3 foggy nights a year, with radiation fog — the most common type in New Zealand — forming on clear, calm nights when temperatures drop, and moisture in the air condenses near the ground.
While some aircraft are equipped to land in low visibility, MetService says taxiing remains dangerous in fog, and fewer planes can land per hour during low-visibility operations.
Radiation fog refers to a fog-forming process dependent on "radiative heat fluxes" as temperature changes from the coldest hours of the morning to the warmer day as the sun rises.
For fog to form, MetService said the best conditions were clear skies, light winds, and sufficient moisture in the lowest layer of the atmosphere, near the ground.
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