Fog, Mount Roland, TAS - Andrew Thomas
Photographer Andrew Thomas. Credit: Andrew Thomas.
A foggy scene at Mount Roland in north-west Tasmania is reflected in a tranquil lake in the May photo in the 2026 Australian Weather Calendar.
Veteran hobby photographer Andrew Thomas captured the scene on the farm next to his home on a very cold morning.
"I lived 100 metres over the fence, and I had been to that spot many times, particularly if it was a calm morning, you'd get a beautiful reflection of the mountain," he said.
"Whenever something looked like it might be happening, I'd jump the fence and make my way over.
"I would get up and go out there and there would be nothing.
And then the fog would appear out of nowhere."
On the day the photo was taken, weather was stable due to a ridge of high pressure extending over the region, with the overnight temperature dropping to just 4°C.
These conditions led to a katabatic (downward) wind, with gravity pulling cold, dense air down the side of the slope, which stands at 1,233 m above sea level, causing fog to appear in the valley below.
Fog forms when the air cools to the dew-point temperature, leading to the formation of tiny water droplets that remain suspended and reduce visibility at ground level to less than 1km.
Andrew has been a photographer for over a decade, picking up the hobby seriously when he and his wife visited every USA national park over 8 years.
"We went to the states 18 times just chasing the national parks, and so whenever I was home, I was just trying to hone my skills locally with whatever I could find."
When it comes to photographing nature and weather, persistence pays off, according to Andrew.
"It can be so random, something can happen out of nowhere.
"A lot of people say to me that I get such nice conditions, and my response to them is that I go out 4 or 5 times a week.
"If you're going to get something good, you've got to be there to capture it.
"And the more times you put yourself out there, the better chances you've got of capturing something unique."
The Bureau's 2027 Australian Weather Calendar national photo competition is currently open for submissions until March 31.
For the full terms and conditions of entry, and to submit a photo, visit: http://www.bom.gov.au/calendar/contest/
