Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Sacramento woke to patchy fog and mist, with visibility down to about a mile at Sacramento International Airport and temperatures in the mid 40s. Skies are expected to clear through the morning and turn sunny, with a high near 69°F this afternoon and only light southerly breezes.
Foggy Mornings, Sunny Afternoons
Patchy low clouds and valley fog may hang on across the eastern half of the central and southern Sacramento Valley and the northern San Joaquin Valley into the early morning before thinning as the sun climbs. That means some neighborhoods could deal with reduced visibility during the commute, but the cloud deck should give way to mostly sunny skies by late morning. Afternoon temperatures will be comfortably in the upper 60s with light winds under 5 mph, according to the National Weather Service Sacramento.
Total Lunar Eclipse Viewing
The total lunar eclipse arrives in the predawn hours of Tuesday, with totality for Pacific observers expected roughly between 3:04 a.m. and 4:02 a.m. PST on March 3, 2026. If low clouds or valley fog linger, some parts of the valley could see spotty views, while higher ground and foothill locations will have better odds of a clear shot at the show. Local eclipse timings and phases are summarized by Sky & Telescope.
Rest Of Week: Winds And Warmer Weekend
A trough on Wednesday, March 4, brings a chance of light showers to the northern Sacramento Valley, foothills, and nearby mountains, with a small 10 to 20 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms and a dusting to a couple of inches of snow on the highest peaks. Dry weather returns Thursday through the weekend, but gusty north to east winds are expected from Thursday through Saturday, with the strongest gusts most likely on Friday that could top 30 to 40 mph in some valley and mountain areas. Above normal highs are forecast for Friday into the weekend, climbing into the mid 70s by Saturday, per the National Weather Service Sacramento.
What To Know For Commuters And Stargazers
Drivers should take it easy during the foggy morning commute, using headlights and slowing down when visibility drops. Eclipse chasers will want a backup plan: be ready to head for higher elevation or a foothill vantage point for clearer skies, or turn to live streams and photo coverage if the clouds refuse to budge.
