When do temperature inversions most commonly occur?

Temperature inversions most commonly occur in the evenings and early mornings due to the cooling of the earth's surface after sunset. During these periods, the ground cools more rapidly than the air above it, leading to a layer of colder air being trapped near the surface beneath a layer of warmer air. This phenomenon can result in poor air quality and the trapping of pollutants, as the inversion layer acts like a lid on the atmosphere.

In contrast, midday temperatures tend to be more stable and less likely to create inversions, as the sun heats the surface and the air above it consistently. While inversions can technically occur in winter months, they are not exclusive to that season. Thunderstorms typically involve strong vertical mixing of air that disrupts any potential inversion layers, so such conditions do not promote the formation of inversions. Thus, early morning and evening are the most conducive times for temperature inversions to develop.