One of the more coveted shots in many Grand Canyon photographer’s portfolios is that of a sea of clouds beneath the rim and blue skies above. This phenomenon is most often the result of a rare weather event called an inversion.
In my twenty years as a park resident, I’ve only witnessed this spectacle on four or five occasions. However, the past two months have provided at least four inversions—a few of which made national and international news.
It’s hard to predict when inversions will take place. More often than not they occur in the dead of winter during the advance or departure of a strong weather system. For the lucky few who happen to be in the park to witness this phenomenon it’s a fleeting marvel to behold.
Here’s a link to a Weather Channel story that explained the most recent inversion: Spectacular Fog Fills Grand Canyon Again.