Photographer captures extraordinary sunset as thick fog rolls in and storm brews over sea

A photographer managed to capture an extraordinary sunset lighting up the sky, a thick fog rolling over the hills and a threatening storm brewing over seas all in a single snapshot.  

Jamie Russell, 41, was at Stenbury Down on the Isle of Wight looking west towards the English Channel when he took the remarkable photo.

In the middle distance, sea fog ca be seen rolling over the green downland as it obscures the view of a hilltop radio mast. 

The 41-year-old took a snapshot that captured the remarkable moment that the three different weather events occurred simultaneously

An in the background a huge cumulus cloud looms ominously, dominating the sky and towering above low-level rain clouds carpeting the sea below.

To complete the trio of natural phenomena there is a stunning orange sunset shining out across the entire scene.

Speaking after the event, Mr Russell said: ‘It was such a rare combination. In all my years of taking weather photos I’ve never seen anything quite like it. 

Speaking after capturing the extraordinary natural phenomenon, Mr Russell said: ‘In all my years of taking weather photos I’ve never seen anything quite like it’

He was also able to catch a vibrant rainbow disappearing over Ventnor Down on the Isle of Wight as much of UK continues to suffer with extreme weather flooding and snow

‘The showers were coming up from the south east towards the island but the winds were coming down from the north and north east.

‘So we had this cold air blowing up the island, which was being pushed up the hill creating the strange fog while the showers came in from the sea.

‘It was crazy to witness.’ 

How sea fog is formed when warm, moist air hits the shore and rapidly cools to create a blanket of vapour

Sea fog forms when relatively warm, moist air passes over a cool surface which in turn cools the air above it until it can no longer hold its moisture.

This then forces the warm air to condense, forming tiny particles of water that form the fog we see. 

Sea fog can cause significant disruption if it blocks visibility to the extent seen here from Brighton (stock image)

It is a common occurrence along the eastern coast of the UK, especially during spring and summer but can appear any time of the year.

If the winds blow in from the east, the fog will often rapidly cover the coast in a blanket of fog.  

According to the Met Office it is usually seen when the air temperature starts to climb but the sea remains cold. 

This is why it can occur any time of year, particularly on unseasonably warm days at a time of year when the sea will be very cold.

There are different names for sea fog in the UK. If it appears in Scotland meteorologists call it Haar whilst in England it is called Fret.