California greets this early December morning under a thick blanket of fog that clings low across the Sacramento Valley, reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile in spots. Streetlights glow in hazy halos, and cars move cautiously through intersections as calm, cold air traps moisture close to the ground.
According to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, dense fog remains widespread through mid-morning Sunday, with visibility improving gradually by late morning. Temperatures hover in the low 40s early, climbing only into the lower 50s under mostly cloudy skies. Calm winds will persist through Monday, keeping conditions cool and stable.
Motorists traveling I-5, Highway 99, and Route 50 should use caution, allow extra travel time, and avoid using high beams, which can reflect off fog and further reduce visibility. The risk of slick pavement and reduced sightlines makes early commutes particularly hazardous.
By Monday, clouds linger but some afternoon brightness returns as highs reach the mid-50s. Tuesday looks partly sunny and milder, with highs near 56°, offering a brief break before another round of valley fog may form midweek.
This early-December fog pattern is typical for the Central Valley’s “Tule fog season,” when cool, moist air becomes trapped beneath an inversion layer. Experts warn that visibility can drop suddenly—especially near rivers, lowlands, and rural roadways.
Elsewhere across the nation, meteorologists are tracking an Arctic blast expected to surge into the Midwest and Great Lakes by Dec. 11–17, bringing lake-effect snow and sub-freezing temperatures to northern states—an early sign of the country’s deepening winter shift.
Five-Day Outlook (Sun–Thu):
• Today: Dense fog, high 51°.
• Monday: Mostly cloudy, high 54°.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny, high 56°.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, high 59°.
• Thursday: Partly cloudy, high 60°.
