Smog could remain for days

Prague Castle, the Petřín lookout tower and the rest of the city's higher altitude landmarks have not disappeared. It only looks like it.

Much of the Czech Republic has been choked in recent days by a thick layer of heavy smog that, while resembling a harmless - even picturesque - London fog, is caused by pollutants being trapped close to the ground because of a temperature inversion, which occurs when the air cools the closer it gets to the ground. Temperatures typically drop at higher altitudes.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute is forecasting the phenomenon to continue for at least another week. The so-called "smog cap" is currently at a somewhat low altitude of 800 meters above sea level.

The smog problem has been the worst in the Moravia-Silesia region in north Moravia, one the country's largest industrial hubs. The city of Třinec has been the most affected. Airborne dust particles and pollutants have exceeded the permitted limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter several times over the past several days in heavy industrial cities like Ostrava and Třinec.

The Czech Republic, along with Norway and Slovenia, are the European countries most susceptible to high levels of smog.

Flights in and out of Prague's Ruzyně Airport have been affected intermittently since the smog first began appearing during the first week of November.

Airport spokeswoman Eva Krejčí said several flights over the past two weeks have been canceled and many others diverted to other cities. As of noon Nov. 15, six flights leaving Prague had already been canceled, and three others coming into the city had been diverted to land elsewhere. Krejčí said airport officials are in constant contact with meteorologists but cannot make any predictions as the forecasts are only accurate in the short term.

"The situation may still develop, for better or for worse, depending on the weather," she said, adding that incoming and outgoing travelers should check with their airlines to get the latest updates on their flights. "The airport is still open, but nothing can be predicted for the long term. Flights are being canceled on very short notice."

- Klára Jiřičná contributed to this report.

Jack Buehrer can be reached at
jbuehrer@praguepost.com