California – Headlights fade into a gray wall across the Sacramento Valley as dense fog settles low over roads, fields, and river corridors. Taillights blur ahead, and even familiar streets feel disorienting during the early commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect until midday, with visibility dropping to one-quarter mile or less. The advisory covers the central Sacramento Valley, including Sacramento, West Sacramento, Davis, Fairfield, Stockton, Modesto, Chico, and Oroville, as well as the Carquinez Strait and Delta.
Fog is thickest near waterways and low-lying areas, especially along I-5, Highway 99, and portions of I-80. Calm winds and saturated air allow fog to linger longer than usual this morning. Drivers may encounter sudden drops in visibility with little warning.
Travel impacts are the main concern. Low visibility increases the risk of rear-end collisions, missed exits, and sudden braking. Use low-beam headlights, slow down, and leave extra following distance. To be fair, conditions can improve quickly once fog thins, but pockets may persist past mid-morning.
Temperatures hover near 40 degrees early, climbing into the low 60s later today as clouds gradually lift. Tonight brings another round of low clouds and fog potential, though coverage may be more patchy.
Sunday trends brighter by late morning, with highs near the low 60s. Early fog remains possible, especially near the Delta. By Monday, sunshine breaks through more consistently, and highs push into the low 60s again.
Nationally, winter remains intense east of the Rockies, with nearly half of the Great Lakes frozen. That locked-in cold contrasts with California’s quiet but tricky weather pattern, where fog creates the biggest hazard rather than snow or ice.
If you’re driving this morning, plan extra time and stay patient. Conditions improve later, but caution matters now.
Are you seeing dense fog where you live? Share what visibility looks like in your neighborhood.
Five Day Outlook for Sacramento, California
- Monday: Patchy morning fog, then mostly sunny, high near 62°F
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high near 63°F
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, high near 65°F
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 66°F
- Friday: Mostly sunny, high near 65°F
