California – A thick layer of fog blankets the San Joaquin Valley this morning, swallowing headlights and slowing early commuters from Bakersfield to Fresno. Tail lights glow faintly through the haze as dense fog reduces visibility to less than a quarter mile in several stretches of Interstate 5, Highway 99, and Route 198. Travelers rushing for Thanksgiving week departures are urged to slow down and keep lights on low beam until conditions lift later this morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Hanford, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect until 11 a.m. PST. The fog covers a wide area—from Los Banos and Visalia south through Hanford, Corcoran, and Bakersfield. Calm winds and cool valley air are trapping moisture near the surface, creating what meteorologists describe as “classic Tule fog”—dense, sudden, and patchy.
Drivers should expect pockets of near-zero visibility on rural roads and major routes. Use extra caution near overpasses and canals, where the air cools fastest. Delays are possible at Fresno Yosemite International Airport and regional airports due to reduced visibility during morning departures.
By midday, sunlight will return and temperatures will rise toward the upper 50s. Tuesday and Wednesday bring clear, calm weather—ideal for travelers before a mild, partly cloudy Thanksgiving. However, early-morning fog could return by midweek, especially in low-lying farmland and near the Kings River basin.
For now, patience and headlights remain the safest tools for valley drivers on this foggy start to the holiday week.
5-DAY OUTLOOK (HANFORD, CA)
Monday: Dense fog early, then partly sunny. High 58°F.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 59°F.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High 60°F.
Thursday (Thanksgiving): Partly sunny. High 60°F.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High 64°F.
