(REUTERS) - Tourists at Grand Canyon National Park witnessed a rare treat on Wednesday (January 28) - a meteorological phenomenon known as cloud inversion.

Time lapse video captured the occurrence, showing a blanket of white clouds swirling in the canyon, and rising nearly to the top of the popular attraction.

Meteorologists say cloud inversion is the result of warm air and a lack of wind sitting on top of the clouds, keeping them near the earth's surface and preventing them from rising into the sky.

A similar phenomenon occurred in December.