The National Weather Service in the Bay Area has issued a Dense Fog Advisory stretching across the North Bay Interior Valleys until 11 AM PST this morning. Residents are advised that visibility might rapidly fall to one-quarter mile or less due to the dense fog, as per the alert. This thick fog blanket is expected to impose hazardous driving conditions due to significantly reduced visibility. In response to these treacherous conditions, motorists are advised to "slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you," according to the advisory on the NWS official website.
In addition, while the main advisory zone is the North Bay Valley, the NWS Bay Area also reported patch fog scenarios elsewhere around the Bay Area and Central Coast, cautioning drivers to "slow down and stay alert." Drivers are to unexpectedly find themselves enveloped in low visibility zones, which can quickly develop as they traverse various parts of the region. This could lead to abrupt alterations in driving conditions, as highlighted in a tweet from the NWS Bay Area's X feed.
⚠ICYMI - Dense Fog Advisory in effect for N Bay Valley.
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) January 15, 2024
However, patchy fog being reported elsewhere around the Bay Area and Central Coast. The patchy nature of #fog can lower visibility quickly and unexpectedly—slow down and stay alert! https://t.co/vOU6GNsB9A #WeatherReady pic.twitter.com/kMpJl63rKp
However, the weather will remain mild in the upcoming days, with high pressure building overhead at the start of the work week. "Quiet weather prevails with the only concern being some overnight and AM fog, perhaps locally dense," remarked a report from the National Weather Service. The short-term forecast includes high-level clouds with filtered sunshine paving the way for temperate highs in the lower 60s across lower elevations, as found in the Area Forecast Discussion on the NWS website.
Looking further ahead, the long-term forecast indicates a shift in the weather pattern to bring light rain into mid-week, followed by a wetter phase starting Friday into early next week. "Our confidence remains high on seeing a wetter pattern later this week and into the first portion of next," shared the forecast discussion, emphasizing a potential for heavy rainfall on the horizon. The NWS report further advises, "just be aware of the wetter pattern in store and keep up with forecast details going forward." For mariners, a Small Craft Advisory will take effect Tuesday morning due to increased wind and sea intensity, as per the Marine section of the Area Forecast Discussion.
