Dense fog is swallowing much of the Sacramento Valley early Saturday, January 31, slashing visibility to a quarter mile or less in spots while temperatures sit in the low 40s. Anyone hitting the road before noon should expect a sluggish commute and build in extra travel time through the advisory window.
Dense Fog Advisory
The National Weather Service issued a Dense Fog Advisory Friday afternoon that runs from 12:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 31. According to the National Weather Service, visibility could drop to “one quarter mile or less” across the Carquinez Strait and Delta, the central and southern Sacramento Valley, and the northern San Joaquin Valley, making some roadways hazardous.
Commute and Flight Impacts
With weak morning sun and only light north winds, the fog may stick around well into the late morning, creating IFR or LIFR conditions at smaller airports and cutting visibility on state highways. Caltrans District 3 is rolling out the usual fog safety advice: slow down, use low beam headlights and follow the right fog line, and avoid stopping on freeway shoulders. You can find those tips from Caltrans District 3.
What To Expect Today
Most of the Valley should see the fog thinning from late morning into the afternoon, with highs near 61°F and only light north-northwest winds around 2 to 3 mph. Patchy fog is likely to redevelop overnight and into Sunday and Monday mornings, so drivers should brace for repeated slow starts to the day; check out our earlier coverage on the repeat fog pattern.
Bottom Line
If you need to drive this morning, treat headlight-only visibility as your cue to ease off the gas and leave extra space between cars. Keep an eye on updates from the National Weather Service and local traffic feeds if you have travel planned through Saturday noon.
.jpg){kind=link}