Why are valleys colder

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Gladys Brooks Memorial Library. Getting and Staying Here. Area Lodging. Join Our Email List. Volunteer Valley Volunteer Application. And while all the lower elevations will cool off too, it is best shown in the Pine Barrens where temperatures there also fell into the 20s.

Temperature inversions can also lead to other effects. One such situation is when a layer of warm air well above the surface traps a layer of cooler air beneath it. Cities like Los Angeles are most commonly impacted by this, where thick brown layers of smog along the horizon can be seen.

Inversions are also responsible for freezing rain during the cool season. As cold air at the surface is kept near or below freezing, warmer air is seen higher in the atmosphere at a higher elevation. As rain falls through relatively warmer layers as a liquid, it ends up freezing on contact when hitting the surface within the shallow yet cold layers.

So, those are the basics of what a temperature inversion is. Next time you are driving on a clear night around daybreak, check out how the temperature fluctuates on your daily commute!