California — A thick veil of mist hangs low across Sacramento this morning, turning intersections into muted silhouettes and leaving droplets clinging to windshields. The cool December air feels still, and headlights glow faintly through areas of dense fog that continue to form along rural roadways and river-adjacent corridors.
Fog remains the biggest hazard early today, with pockets reducing visibility to a few hundred feet before conditions gradually improve toward late morning. Drivers along I-5, Highway 99, and local farm-to-market roads should slow down, use low beams, and leave extra stopping distance as pavement stays damp and sight lines shift quickly. Meteorologists note this is the time of year when flash-freeze slick spots can appear on shaded bridges, even without subfreezing temperatures.
By midday, skies begin to brighten, and a mild December warmup unfolds. Sunshine builds into Friday, pushing highs into the mid-50s, and calm winds keep outdoor conditions comfortable for early holiday errands, decorating, or yard cleanup. Saturday leans mostly sunny again with highs near 59°F, offering one of the driest periods before the next pattern shift arrives next week.
While Sacramento stays dry, a broader winter storyline is unfolding across the northern states, where an entrenched Arctic air mass grips the Midwest and Northeast. Long-range models signal continued lake-effect snow from December 11–17, especially around Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and western New York. Anyone planning early holiday travel through those regions should begin monitoring airport and highway reports.
Locally, conditions remain stable through early next week with only patchy fog overnight and partly sunny afternoons. Use caution during early-day commutes, as fog can return suddenly.
Five-Day Outlook (Sacramento, CA)
• Today: Fog then mostly sunny, high 54°F.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, high 55°F.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, high 59°F.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, high 58°F.
• Monday: Mostly sunny, high 50°F.
