See Rock City

Not to be mist: this natural occurrence

How to spot a cloud inversion in Chattanooga
mountain overlook showcasing a wide layer of thick mist in front of a mountain, with the sun rising in the distance.
A beautiful cloud inversion photo taken at Snooper’s Rock. | Photo by @kcsmolak
Grid cities like NYC + Chicago have their henges, San Diego has its glowing “red tides,” and even nearby, the Great Smoky Mountains have synchronous fireflies.

Chattanooga’s Kodak-ready natural occurrence? Cloud inversions.

While cloud inversions aren’t specific to Chattanooga, the city’s serendipitous combination of being located next to the Tennessee River — which creates an abundance of moisture that can turn to mist — and having various accessible overlooks like Snooper’s Rock make it a prime location for viewing the unique weather phenomenon.

And while you may not have heard the phrase “cloud inversion” before, if you follow any Chattanoogan with a camera on social media, you’ve definitely seen it.

The weather event is also known as a temperature inversion, and it’s exactly what it sounds like — the result of the normal distribution of air inverting, aka, cool air being trapped beneath warm air.

So, how to see it in person and snap a photo of your own? While there’s no foolproof way to predict a cloud inversion occurrence, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust recently shared a few conditions that are conducive to cloud inversions, so you can try to predict when the next one will take place:
  • Temperature that meets the dew point
  • Relatively high humidity
  • Not too much wind + calm conditions
  • Longer nights (aka, you’re more likely to see these in the fall + winter)
  • No incoming fronts
Pro tip: once the sun fully rises, these inversions will often start to dissipate + clear, so you’re more likely to catch one in its full glory during sunrise. We’re envisioning a crisp autumn morning with coffee in hand + views across the land. 😍

Wondering where you can view a cloud inversion locally? These spots have all given way to beautiful views during this weather event:
Use the links below to share this with someone who brings you sunshine on a cloudy day.

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Today
Tuesday
  • Herbalism 101 | Tues., Sept. 27 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, 400 Garden Rd. | $35 | Go through the very basics of herbalism + talk about how you can use these plants to promote a healthier, more well-intentioned lifestyle.
  • Tuesday Matinees | Tues., Sept. 27 | 2-4:30 p.m. | Downtown Library | Free | Enjoy a screening of “Big” + free popcorn. 🍿
Wednesday
  • Alan Shikoh: Wednesday Jazz | Wed., Sept. 28 | 7-9 p.m. | Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave. | $5 | Listen as Alan Shikoh interprets jazz standards for solo guitar in an intimate setting.
  • Green Drinks | Wed., Sept. 28 | 5-7 p.m. | The Gear Closet, 1510 Riverside Dr. | Free, RSVP | Learn about The Gear Closet’s sustainable practices alongside Green Spaces. 💚
  • Stillhouse Junkies | Wed., Sept. 28 | 8 p.m. | The Woodshop, 5500 St. Elmo Ave. | $20 | This band performs a “head-spinning mixture of original roots, blues, funk, swing, and bluegrass music.”
Thursday
  • People’s History of Chattanooga Walking Tour | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Union Depot Marker, 158 MLK Blvd. | Donation, RSVP | Michael Gilliland of CALEB will lead this downtown tour using the landscape + landmarks to discuss slavery and antebellum Chattanooga, the Civil War, and more. 🚶
Friday
  • 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival | Fri., Sept. 30-Sat., Oct. 1 | Various times | Ross’s Landing | Free+ | Listen to bands like The New Dismembered Tennesseans, Bluetastic Fangrass, and more. 🎶


We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

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Grind your coffee, not your teeth
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Get yours below — and keep the grind in the kitchen. ☕ *
STOP GRINDIN’

Weather
  • 78º | Sunny | 6% chance of rain ☀️
Coming Soon
  • Southside is getting a new bagel + pizza joint. Honey Seed is coming to Market Street sometime soon, with “hand-rolled bagels” and “woodfired pizza.”
Development
  • Erlanger Health System plans to convert the acute care side of Erlanger North Hospital in Red Bank into a 48-bed behavioral health hospital. The conversion is a joint venture with Arcadia Healthcare, though Erlanger will maintain ownership of the property. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Number
  • 13. That’s how many Hamilton County schools received Level 5 distinction from the Tennessee Department of Education. Level 5 is the highest ranking based on academic growth shown by students during the spring testing period.
Arts
  • Southern Adventist University’s School of Visual Art and Design will host “A Celebration of Life” exhibit by painter Myung Joo Shin. Opening night of the gallery will be free + open to the public on Thurs., Oct. 6 in the John C. Williams Art Gallery. 🖼️
  • To wrap up its 70th anniversary, The Hunter Museum has announced its display of “Memories & Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Berry Collection of African American Art.” The collection includes 67 works of varying mediums, subjects + styles. (The Pulse)
Sports
  • Registration for the 10th Annual Battle at the Bend Skate Contest on Oct. 22 is now open. Enter to win up to $500 in cash prizes + handmade awards from Ignis Glass Studio. Registration is free for this open division contest, but there are only 70 spots available. 🛹
Award
  • The Hamilton County 911 Emergency Communications District received the “Dispatch Event of the Year” award for its second + third shift teams. The top state award was received at the Tennessee Emergency Numbers Association conference. (Chattanoogan.com)
Drink
  • Chattanooga Whiskey announced the next release of its Bottled in Bond Series, the Fall 2018 Vintage. The fourth release in this award-winning series is crafted from a selection of four unique + high malt bourbon mash bills made within the same distilling season. 🥃
Health
  • For National Diaper Need Awareness Week, UnitedHealthcare + Allied Pediatrics will host a diaper distribution event on Tues., Sept. 27 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at 7405 Shallowford Rd. These statewide giveaways are aimed to help Tennessee families struggling with diaper insecurity.
  • Did you know? Our allergy triggers change and evolve over time as we age. Read: You might have new allergies you don’t even know about. Curious about yours? Take this quiz and find out.*
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I said-a hip, hop, the hippie, the hippie to the hip hip hop you don’t stop

CIVIQ Speaker Series focuses on hip-hop and urbanism
This Thurs., Sept. 29, real estate investor + developer Bruzenkskey Bois will be in Chattanooga to discuss how hip-hop culture reflects and relates to urbanism, neighborhoods, and placemaking.

Wanna sneak peek of what to expect at the CIVIQ event? Hear it straight from the source:

”... I feel like it’s still an early stage topic of really looking at hip-hop culture as it reflects and as it pertains to new urbanism, neighborhood, and place building. I’m really going to dive into the parallels between the two... I also want to allow people to leave the room with action items, things that they can actually do to be a part of the process. You know, just because it is hip-hop, and it is talking from a perspective of the Congressional Black Caucus for New Urbanism, you don’t have to be Black to be a part of it, you don’t have to be affected by it to participate. You just gotta have a good moral heart, just want to kind of see things moving in a more positive direction, and be a part of that.”

Sign up (for free, btw) here.
THE WRAP
Brianna Williams

Today’s issue was written by Brianna.

Editor’s pick: Have you seen the temps for this week? I am utterly overjoyed. Don’t mind me, breakin’ out my favorite jackets + sweaters (speaking of... it’s now *actually* almost sweater weather).

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Pride Week is back in Chattanooga.
Read More
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Editorial: Brianna Williams, Kristen Templeton, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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