HANFORD, Calif. – The quiet calm over the San Joaquin Valley may briefly break today as spotty showers and isolated rumbles of thunder move across the region before skies clear again by Thursday. Early commuters could find damp roads near Hanford and Highway 198, but the return to sunshine will be swift — signaling a classic California fall pattern heading into the weekend.
According to the National Weather Service in Hanford, scattered light rain and clouds will linger through the late morning before dry air filters in by midafternoon. Highs will reach near 70 degrees Wednesday, then climb into the low to mid-70s by Thursday and Friday. Winds will remain light but shift northwest as a weak cold front exits the Valley.
By Friday, the weather turns calm and bright with highs in the mid-70s and crisp mornings in the low 50s. The weekend looks nearly perfect for outdoor activities — mild afternoons, cool evenings, and only patchy valley haze during calm periods. Those working harvest fields or hosting outdoor events should have no weather-related interruptions through Sunday.
Residents are advised to use this stretch for outdoor cleanup or early holiday decorating before wetter patterns return late next week. To be fair, today’s rain isn’t much — but it’s the kind of fleeting moisture that marks the shift toward California’s storm season, where the first meaningful systems often arrive by early November.
The air will stay comfortable and dry through the weekend, with clear skies making for ideal evenings under the stars.
Five-Day Forecast for Hanford, CA:
Wed: 70/54 – Morning showers; partial clearing, light northwest breeze.
Thu: 72/52 – Mostly sunny; calm and mild fall air.
Fri: 75/52 – Sunny; light winds, crisp start.
Sat: 73/52 – Partly sunny; ideal outdoor weather.
Sun: 74/50 – Clear, cool morning; bright and calm afternoon.
