A striking white “veil” of fog covered the Cycladic islands today, Wednesday, August 19, obscuring entire beaches and coastlines and creating problems for vessels navigating the area. The images and videos captured an eerie landscape, behind which, however, lies a natural phenomenon internationally known as “sea smoke.”

@eutuxiapm Και ο νοτιάς έφερε τη δική του μαγεία 🫠 #folegandros #august #summer #cyclades ♬ OI KAIROI ALLAZOUNE – Saske

What is sea smoke?

Despite its name, it is not actual smoke but a type of fog. The phenomenon occurs when a stream of cold air moves over the warmer surface of the sea. The high temperature of the water causes rapid evaporation, sharply increasing humidity in the lowest layers of the atmosphere.

As this warm, moist air mixes with the colder air directly above it, it cools rapidly. Unable to retain the water vapor, it condenses it into tiny droplets, creating dense fog immediately above the water.

The result is the impression that the sea is “steaming” or “boiling,” creating a spectacular sight.

The phenomenon in the Cyclades

Although sea smoke is much more common in polar or very cold regions, it can also occur in the Aegean when the appropriate temperature contrasts develop. Today, this rare phenomenon was observed on several Cycladic islands, including Paros, Antiparos, Folegandros, Kimolos, Milos and Ios.

Ships “disappeared” in Paros and Antiparos

In the sea area between Paros and Antiparos, the sea smoke phenomenon significantly reduced visibility. Within the dense veil, ferries appear almost suddenly as they approach or depart from the ports, sounding their horns continuously and for prolonged periods. In this way, they warn of their presence and course, particularly smaller vessels and sailboats that do not have surface-search radar and may not be able to detect them in time.

The images from the area are impressive, but also alarming. Large passenger vessels can be seen faintly through the fog, while sailboats, inflatable boats and other recreational craft move nearby.

@katerinaxintiraki Καλά πήγε αυτό… 18/8 Κίμωλος ! #zero #kimolos #sea #milos #boat ♬ original sound – ExodusOne | Rey Del Desmadre

The ships’ horns can be heard throughout the coastal area, creating an unusual atmosphere of tension. Captains are proceeding with heightened caution, as under these conditions, safely entering and leaving the ports requires continuous checks and readiness.

Particular caution is required from operators of small boats, who must avoid the paths of ferries and dangerous maneuvers. When visibility is so limited, a sailboat can find itself dangerously close to a large vessel before it becomes visible from the vessel’s bridge.

A dense veil of fog also covered Kimolos

The images from Kimolos are particularly striking, where the fog was so dense that even Milos, located directly opposite the island, could not be seen.

@elenastamou ΟΛΑ καλά απλά ψάχνουμε την Μήλο 🤣 #kimolos #greece ♬ Katakouzinos at the summertime – 𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕜 𝕋𝕍 𝕍𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠𝕤

“Everything is fine, we’re just looking for Milos,” one TikTok user wrote characteristically, while another video from Kimolos’s famous Prassa Beach captures the same impressive scene, with dense fog covering the landscape and severely limiting visibility.

The phenomenon, however, did not merely create impressive images. It also caused problems for ferry services, as the low visibility made maritime travel more difficult and affected the operation of some scheduled routes.

@bouri300 #Κιμωλος #παραλια_πρασσα ♬ πρωτότυπος ήχος – KsinesPonties