Hanford, California – Drivers across the central San Joaquin Valley are urged to use caution Saturday morning as fog creates a high transportation risk with reduced visibility on major roadways.
According to the U.S. National Weather Service in Hanford, an elevated fog risk is expected during the early morning hours Saturday, with travel impacts rated Level 4 out of 5. While forecasters say fog may not be as widespread as in recent days, localized areas of very poor visibility are still possible, particularly before mid-morning.
The greatest concerns are along heavily traveled corridors including State Route 99, Interstate 5, State Route 198, State Route 41, and surrounding rural highways. Visibility may drop below 500 feet in some locations, increasing the risk of sudden slowdowns and chain-reaction crashes, especially in low-lying and agricultural areas.
The National Weather Service advises motorists to reduce speed, increase following distance, and switch headlights from automatic settings to low beams when encountering fog. Drivers should also be prepared for sudden changes in visibility, even over short distances.
Confidence in fog development remains moderate through the weekend, with uncertainty increasing beyond Saturday. Conditions are expected to gradually improve later in the morning as temperatures rise and fog dissipates.
The fog risk may particularly affect early-morning commuters, agricultural workers, and commercial drivers operating during pre-dawn and sunrise hours. Delays are possible on major routes as traffic slows in affected areas.
No significant precipitation or storm activity is expected in association with the fog, but officials stress that reduced visibility alone poses a serious safety concern.
Drivers are encouraged to check local road conditions before traveling and monitor official National Weather Service updates for the latest information as conditions evolve.
