California – Headlights glow faintly through thick gray air this morning as dense fog blankets the San Joaquin Valley, swallowing roads and fields with near-zero visibility in spots. Drivers rolling out early are encountering sudden slowdowns, especially along rural highways where fog settles deepest.
According to the National Weather Service in Hanford, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect until noon Wednesday. Visibility has dropped to a quarter mile or less across portions of central California, with isolated areas briefly falling to zero. The advisory covers Kings, Fresno, Merced, Madera, and surrounding counties.
Fog is thickest during the morning hours, clinging to low-lying areas and major travel corridors. Impacted routes include Interstate 5 and State Routes 99, 41, 43, 46, 58, 59, 140, 152, 165, 180, and 198. Sudden stops and chain-reaction collisions remain the primary concern during peak commute times.
Temperatures hover in the low 40s early, allowing fog to persist longer than usual. Calm winds are offering little help in clearing it out. Some improvement is expected by late morning, though pockets of dense fog may redevelop again after sunset.
By Wednesday afternoon, sunshine breaks through more consistently. Highs climb into the mid-60s, helping dry road surfaces and improve visibility. Conditions continue to improve Thursday, with mostly sunny skies and highs near 70 degrees.
For now, travel requires patience. Slow down, use low-beam headlights, and leave extra distance between vehicles. Avoid sudden lane changes, especially near intersections and on highways.
Looking ahead, the broader pattern turns quieter and warmer into the weekend, with no major storms on the immediate horizon. Still, February fog season is far from over.
Are you seeing dense fog where you live this morning? Share what conditions look like on your commute.
Five-Day Outlook for Hanford, California
- Today: Dense fog early, then mostly sunny, high near 62°F
- Wednesday: Morning fog, then sunny, high near 65°F
- Thursday: Partly sunny, high near 69°F
- Friday: Mostly cloudy, high near 66°F
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, high near 64°F
