California — Headlights fade into gray walls as dense fog swallows intersections across the Central Valley. Tail lights appear late, disappear fast, and drivers slow instinctively. Conditions are changing by the minute, and reaction time is short.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect across the San Joaquin Valley, including Hanford, with visibility dropping to one-quarter mile or less. In isolated pockets, visibility can briefly fall to near zero. The highest risk window stretches through late morning, with another round possible again late tonight into Thursday morning.
This fog is classic winter Tule fog, trapped by calm winds and high moisture. Temperatures hover near 41°F early, allowing fog to thicken before gradual improvement later today. Sunshine breaks through by afternoon, pushing highs toward the low 60s, but that relief comes slowly.
Travel impacts are the main concern. Highway 99, Interstate 5, and Routes 41, 43, 46, and 198 are especially vulnerable. Visibility can change suddenly, even within a single mile. Plan extra time, use low-beam headlights, and increase following distance. Avoid cruise control and watch for stopped traffic ahead.
Patchy dense fog may redevelop late tonight and again early Thursday. After that, conditions trend quieter. Friday stays mostly cloudy and mild, with highs near 60°F. The weekend looks warmer and brighter, though clouds linger at times. A small rain chance returns late Saturday night into Sunday, but no major storm signals appear yet.
Looking ahead, NOAA’s 6–10 day outlook favors above-normal temperatures across much of California into early February. That warmth can limit prolonged fog episodes, but short-lived morning fog remains possible after clear nights.
For now, the message is simple: slow down and stay alert. Fog hides hazards until the last second. Are you driving this morning? Share what visibility looks like on your route.
Five-Day Outlook for Hanford, California
- Today: Dense fog early, then sunny, high near 61°F
- Thursday: Patchy morning fog, mostly sunny, high near 56°F
- Friday: Mostly cloudy, high near 60°F
- Saturday: Partly sunny, high near 63°F
- Sunday: Mostly cloudy, slight rain chance, high near 61°F
