Flight-Delaying, Dense Fog To Continue

Dense fog that delayed arrivals and departures at John Wayne Airport early Friday for the second consecutive day is expected to continue its disruption of flights this weekend, weather forecasters say.

Fifteen flights were delayed Friday morning before the fog lifted, said Susan Thomas, supervisor in the control tower. The airport normally allows departures at 7 a.m., but did not begin clearing the backlogged flights until 8:20 a.m.

Thomas said it was not known how many flights scheduled to arrive at the airport Friday were delayed at their departure points because of the fog here.

The county should continue to experience patchy fog this weekend, but it is expected to burn off quickly, said Steve Burback, meteorologist at WeatherData Inc., which provides weather information to the Times.

Burback said the recent ground-level cloud cover is caused by a Catalina Eddy. The eddy forms over Santa Catalina Island and creates a low-pressure system over the coast. The combination of low pressure and cold nights produces fog.

Thomas said the fog delays at the airport are not unusual in early winter.

“It is intermittent this time of year between morning fog and evening fog and Santa Ana winds,” Thomas said.

She said that even after the fog dissipated here, commuter flights destined for Long Beach were delayed further as visibility remained poor there.

Los Angeles International Airport reported no disruptions despite only one-eighth of a mile visibility.