HANFORD, CA – A blanket of dense fog has settled across California’s San Joaquin Valley this Friday morning, turning the region’s roads into a slow-moving maze of headlights and hazard lights. Drivers from Los Banos to Fresno are urged to take extra care, as visibility in some areas has dropped to just a few hundred feet.
According to the National Weather Service in Hanford, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect until 11 a.m. PDT for much of Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Merced counties. Visibility may fall below a quarter-mile in spots, especially along Highway 99, I-5, and rural farm routes near Hanford, Selma, and Lemoore. The fog is expected to lift late in the morning as the sun warms the valley floor, revealing another clear, mild day with highs near 76°F.
Calm conditions continue through the weekend. Saturday and Sunday both look mostly sunny, with highs in the low to mid-70s and light northwest breezes. Nights will cool quickly, dipping into the low 50s, which could allow patchy fog to reform in the early morning hours each day.
By early next week, a subtle warming trend returns, with highs approaching 80°F by Tuesday under clear skies. It’s a tranquil setup overall — a classic late-October pattern for the Central Valley.
Still, this morning’s fog is a clear reminder of the season’s shift. As the region heads toward November, cooler nights and longer fog spells become the norm. For now, slow down, keep those headlights on, and enjoy the sun once the gray clears.
