California – Headlights glow softly through a wall of gray this morning as dense fog blankets large parts of the San Joaquin Valley. Visibility drops suddenly, taillights fade fast, and familiar roads feel unfamiliar before sunrise.
According to the National Weather Service in Hanford, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect until late morning. Visibility has fallen to a quarter mile or less in many areas, with pockets near 800 feet at times. The advisory stretches across much of central California, including Kings, Fresno, Tulare, Kern, and Merced counties.
Hanford, Visalia, Fresno, Bakersfield, and surrounding communities face the greatest impacts early today. Major travel corridors are affected, including Interstate 5, Highway 99, and State Routes 41, 43, 46, 58, 140, and 198. Drivers may encounter sudden whiteouts, especially near rivers, open fields, and low-lying areas.
Calm winds and saturated air allow fog to thicken through the early morning hours. Conditions gradually improve by late morning as sunshine breaks through and temperatures climb into the low 60s. Still, patchy fog may linger longer in rural areas and along shaded stretches of roadway.
By tonight, fog redevelops in spots, though coverage should be less widespread. Wednesday brings a similar setup with patchy morning fog, then mostly sunny skies and highs near 59. Thursday and Friday trend slightly cooler, with improving afternoon visibility but continued morning haze possible.
Drivers should slow down, increase following distance, and use low-beam headlights. Avoid sudden lane changes and watch for stopped traffic ahead. Tule fog can thicken quickly without warning.
Looking ahead, NOAA’s 6–10 day outlook suggests near-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures into early February, which may support additional fog episodes during overnight and morning hours.
Are you seeing dense fog where you are this morning, or has visibility already started to improve?
Five-Day Outlook for Hanford, California
- Today: Dense fog early, then mostly sunny. High near 62.
- Wednesday: Patchy morning fog, mostly sunny. High near 59.
- Thursday: Partly sunny. High near 56.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy. High near 60.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy. High near 62.
