All flights in and out of Canberra have been put on hold as the city awoke to a thick layer of fog.


Sean Carson from the Bureau of Meteorology said visibility was down to 150 metres at the airport, which he described as “pretty bad”.


“That’s basically as thick as it gets,” he said.


Mr Carson said the combination of lingering moisture and a cold night, dropping to minus 1 degree, had created perfect conditions for fog.


“The cold nights and the clear skies partly caused the fog,” he said.


He said it was expected to clear later in the day, with showers predicted for the afternoon.


The weather has also caused delays at Canberra Airport.


An airport spokeswoman said a few early flights managed to take off, but all flights had been put “on hold” until the fog cleared.