Patchy morning fog on Friday blanketed parts of the southern Sacramento and northern San Joaquin valleys, cutting visibility and slowing some commuters. Weather officials warned drivers to watch for sudden near-zero visibility, especially in low-lying river areas and around the Delta.
Patchy fog and reduced visibilities are being observed across portions of the southern Sacramento and northern San Joaquin valleys. Slow down and use low-beam headlights if you encounter reduced visibilities. #cawx
— Caltrans HQ (@caltranshq) February 13, 2026
Where the fog is forming
Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Sacramento are calling for patchy morning fog in the southern Sacramento Valley and northern San Joaquin Valley, with lowland corridors and stretches near rivers the most at risk, according to National Weather Service Sacramento. The office's local forecast and zone products say visibility reductions are likely to redevelop overnight and linger through the early commute. Models also show a stronger system later next week that should help clear out the valley fog.
How drivers should respond
Caltrans urged drivers to check live cameras and road conditions before heading out, noting that its QuickMap traveler map shows real-time camera views and incident alerts along freeway corridors, according to Caltrans QuickMap. The agency also amplified the weather office's advisory by retweeting the message that drivers should "slow down and use low-beam headlights" when encountering reduced visibilities, as seen in the Caltrans HQ post. If you do hit a wall of dense fog, leave extra following distance, avoid stopping on freeway shoulders, and keep headlights on low beam until visibility improves.
Why fog here can be dangerous
Tule fog can spin up quickly in the Central Valley on calm, cool nights and drop visibility to near-zero in a matter of minutes. That danger is not theoretical: a late-January crash east of Bakersfield that involved 43 vehicles and sent nine people to hospitals shows how severe valley fog can get, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Forecasters have described this kind of setup as a "classic inversion" that lets cold, moist air pool overnight until daytime heating and wind burn the fog off.
Tracking conditions and past coverage
To keep tabs on changing conditions, check the National Weather Service’s local forecast products and Caltrans QuickMap for live advisories and camera feeds, according to National Weather Service Sacramento and Caltrans QuickMap. Hoodline ran a related update last Thursday, which outlined the same commute risks and expected burn-off timing.
