Dense fog blankets Potomac River amid mid-January warmup

WASHINGTON — Unseasonably warm air hit the icy waters of the Potomac River creating an ethereal cloudlike effect on Friday.

Two weeks of bitter cold temperatures created thick ice on the river, which cooled and condensed as the mild air moved in to the region during the day.

WTOP photographer Dave Dildine captured the spectral scenes.

Dense fog swirls up toward the Key Bridge on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Dense fog swirls up toward the Key Bridge on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. A bout of mild temperatures interrupted a two-week cold snap this week. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Dense fog blankets the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center on Friday, Jan. 12. 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Dense fog blankets the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center on Friday, Jan. 12. 2018 amid a mid-January warmup. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Dense fog rises off the Potomac River as a man takes a selfie near the Key Bridge on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Dense fog rises off the Potomac River as a man takes a selfie near the Key Bridge on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Unseasonably warm air hit the icy waters of the Potomac River creating the ethereal effect. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A woman snaps a photo of the deep blanket of fog that rose off the cold waters of the Potomac River on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 amid a mid-January warmup. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A woman snaps a photo of the deep blanket of fog that rose off the cold waters of the Potomac River on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 amid a mid-January warmup. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A man photographs the dense fog rising off the Potomac River on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A man photographs the dense fog rising off the Potomac River at Georgetown Harbour on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Two weeks of bitter cold temperatures created thick ice on the river, which cooled the mild air that moved in to the region during the day. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A bird stands in the Potomac River as dense fog rises off the water on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A bird stands in the Potomac River as dense fog rises off the water near Georgetown Harbour on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. A bout of mild temperatures interrupted a two-week cold snap this week. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Georgetown is seen across a blanket of fog on the Potomac River on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Georgetown is seen across a blanket of fog on the Potomac River on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Two weeks of bitter cold temperatures created thick ice on the river, which cooled and condensed as the mild air moved in to the region during the day. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A woman runs through defense fog along the Potomac River on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A woman runs through defense fog along the Potomac River in Foggy Bottom on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
The Potomac River is hiden under a blanket of dense fog on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
The Potomac River is hidden under a blanket of dense fog in Foggy Bottom on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Dense fog from the Potomac River coats a path on Friday Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Dense fog from the Potomac River coats a path in Foggy Bottom on Friday Jan. 12, 2018. Two weeks of bitter cold temperatures created thick ice on the river, which cooled and condensed as the mild air moved in to the region during the day. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Fog shrouds the base of the Washington Monument on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Mild temperatures mixing with cold air above the icy Potomac River created the heavy, ethereal fog. (WTOP/Carlos Prieto)
Fog shrouds the base of the Washington Monument on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Mild temperatures mixing with cold air above the icy Potomac River created the heavy, ethereal fog. (WTOP/Carlos Prieto)
Fog shrouds the Washington Monument on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Mild temperatures mixing with cold air above the icy Potomac River created the heavy, ethereal fog. (WTOP/Carlos Prieto)
Fog shrouds the Washington Monument on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Mild temperatures mixing with cold air above the icy Potomac River created the heavy, ethereal fog. (WTOP/Carlos Prieto)
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Dense fog swirls up toward the Key Bridge on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Dense fog blankets the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center on Friday, Jan. 12. 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Dense fog rises off the Potomac River as a man takes a selfie near the Key Bridge on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A woman snaps a photo of the deep blanket of fog that rose off the cold waters of the Potomac River on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 amid a mid-January warmup. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A man photographs the dense fog rising off the Potomac River on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A bird stands in the Potomac River as dense fog rises off the water on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Georgetown is seen across a blanket of fog on the Potomac River on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A woman runs through defense fog along the Potomac River on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
The Potomac River is hiden under a blanket of dense fog on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Dense fog from the Potomac River coats a path on Friday Jan. 12, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Fog shrouds the base of the Washington Monument on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Mild temperatures mixing with cold air above the icy Potomac River created the heavy, ethereal fog. (WTOP/Carlos Prieto)
Fog shrouds the Washington Monument on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Mild temperatures mixing with cold air above the icy Potomac River created the heavy, ethereal fog. (WTOP/Carlos Prieto)

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