HANFORD, Calif. – A damp, gray calm hangs over the San Joaquin Valley this morning — the kind of stillness that signals change. Clouds are thickening ahead of an approaching Pacific system expected to bring steady rain, cooler air, and a noticeable shift from the Valley’s recent mild stretch.
By Thursday morning, rain will spread across much of Central California, including Hanford, Visalia, and Fresno. According to the National Weather Service, showers will increase after sunrise, turning steady by midday. Winds will remain light, but damp roads could slow travel along Route 41 and connecting corridors through the southern Valley. Total rainfall between a quarter and half an inch is likely through Thursday night, with locally higher amounts possible toward the Sierra foothills.
The system may produce isolated thunderstorms Thursday evening, mainly south of Fresno County, before gradually tapering into lighter showers Friday. Daytime highs will cool into the upper 60s, with lows near 50°F — a reminder that the late-fall transition is well underway.
Looking toward the weekend, scattered showers linger into Saturday, but breaks of sunshine are possible by Sunday afternoon. That will offer a brief dry window for early holiday travel, outdoor chores, or local harvest festivals still winding down before Thanksgiving week.
Another moisture plume may develop by early next week, potentially setting up a wetter pattern heading into the second half of November — a positive sign for California’s reservoirs and early-season agriculture, but one that could challenge travel if storms strengthen ahead of the holidays.
Five-Day Outlook for Hanford, CA:
Thu: 71/56 – Rain likely; breezy south winds.
Fri: 60/50 – Showers; cooling trend.
Sat: 59/50 – Chance of rain; mostly cloudy.
Sun: 63/48 – Partly sunny; dry spells.
Mon: 64/47 – Cloudy; light showers possible.
