California — Taillights fade quickly into gray this morning as dense fog settles across the Sacramento Valley. Moist air hugs the ground, muffling sound and shrinking visibility to just a few car lengths in spots.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect through late morning. Visibility has dropped to a quarter mile or less across Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, and surrounding communities. According to the National Weather Service, calm winds and saturated air are allowing fog to persist well after sunrise.
Drivers on I-80, Highway 99, and surface streets should expect sudden slowdowns and limited sightlines. Use low-beam headlights, increase following distance, and allow extra time for the commute. Conditions may improve briefly late morning, but fog could redevelop again tonight as temperatures cool.
Temperatures sit in the low 40s early, climbing into the upper 40s this afternoon. Roads remain damp from lingering moisture, increasing the risk of slick pavement where fog condenses on cooler surfaces.
Attention then shifts toward New Year’s Day 2026. Clouds thicken Wednesday night, and rain chances increase by Thursday. Rain becomes likely on New Year’s Day, marking a clear pattern change after days of stagnant air. While no snow is expected in the valley, wet roads could complicate holiday travel.
Rain continues into Thursday night and Friday, possibly heavy at times. Meteorologists are monitoring a Pacific system that may bring periods of steady rainfall, which could reduce visibility further and cause ponding on roadways.
Looking toward the first weekend of 2026, showers linger with highs in the mid to upper 50s. Fog becomes less dominant as rain and mixing improve air movement, but early-morning travel could still be slow.
Slow down in fog-prone areas and stay alert for changing conditions. Heading out this morning or traveling for New Year’s? What visibility are you seeing where you are?
Five-Day Outlook – Sacramento, California
Today: Dense fog early, partly sunny, high near 48
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, chance of rain late, high near 49
New Year’s Day 2026 (Thursday): Rain likely, high near 56
Friday: Showers likely, high near 58
Saturday: Chance of rain, high near 55
