For those residing in and around the Sacramento area, the National Weather Service has forecasted a continuation of the cool, somewhat crisp mornings that have greeted us over the past days. Concerning the skies above, they tell a tale of dry conditions and a generous amount of sunshine hanging around through the forthcoming week. In a pattern that almost mimics the steadfast nature of the city itself, we're looking at a stable stretch weather-wise, punctuated only by a gradual rise in temperatures to cherish as we step into the latter days of fall.
Speaking directly to the more imminent hours, fog has thickened once again, especially blanketing the southern Sacramento and northern San Joaquin Valley, as well as the Delta, reducing road visibility at times to a mere 1/4 mile. The NWS warns, "This fog is expected to persist to at least 11am," with the possibility of it lingering well into the afternoon sun. By issuing a Dense Fog Advisory effective through 11 AM today, the message is clear: precaution is warranted and visibility is, indeed, compromised.
Looking out into the week, a whisper of a weather system—a weak short-wave trough—is slated to pass through today. Devoid of significant moisture, its visit should leave the valley's dry conditions undisturbed, simply streaking the sky with high-level clouds. As one might anticipate in the shadow of such subtlety, ridging remains the dominant force above bustling Sacramento streets, promising to hoist temperatures into the comforting clasp of the 60s in the Valley, while those at higher elevations see a more modest push into the upper 40s to mid-50s.
Extended forecasts, those oracles of meteorology, maintain a consistent narrative: upper ridging is the everlasting sentinel over inland Northern California, bestowing upon us high temps that hold hands with the word "normal" or playfully skip just a step above. Into Saturday, we may note a modest shift as "ridge axis progresses through the CWA early Saturday," yet the outlook from our weather seers does not call for rainfall just yet. Instead, they project dry conditions stretching through Sunday, broken up only by the chance appearance of local fog in the Central Valley during the witching hours of night and early morning. For those counting on clear tarmacs and unfettered horizons, fear not, for VFR conditions rule the skies beyond the fog's reach, with surface wind keeping its boisterous dance to a mostly subdued waltz below 12 knots.
