Will the Central Valley escape the dense fog this weekend? Here’s what NWS says
The tule fog is back after a brief time off during the holidays and start of January.
While some Sacramentans embrace the chilly, overcast weather while it lasts, others are tired of the gloomy, low visibility mornings.
According to the National Weather Service, the fog season isn’t over just yet. Going into the weekend, Sacramento still had a foggy morning Friday.
However, changing weather patterns appear poised to provide some relief over the weekend, NWS forecasters said Friday.
How is fog forecasted?
Predicting fog over a long period is complicated, due to the varying factors that cause it to develop.
According to NWS, a combination of various short-term weather conditions must align to allow fog to form. Overnight clear skies, a high dew point, light winds and rising air are some of the main factors that encourage thick fog’s development.
These factors must occur around the same time to create optimal fog conditions, making longer-term predictions difficult to form accurately.
Previous Sacramento Bee reporting showed the Sacramento Valley has ripe environmental conditions for radiation fog in the fall and winter months, with moist air from the Pacific Ocean, low wind speeds and clear night skies.
Blue sky weekend expected in Sacramento
Friday morning started with a dense fog advisory through 1 p.m., with visibility in some areas reaching less than a quarter-mile.
But NWS Sacramento meteorologist Sara Purdue said northerly winds are on their way for Saturday — and with them, reducing the chance of thick fog throughout the weekend.
The weather service’s forecast for Sacramento said winds on Saturday would hover between 6 miles and 10 miles per hour. Wind gusts are forecast to reach 18 mph.
According to Purdue, the fog will start dissipating north of the Sacramento area in the early morning, and winds will move toward the capital city and the San Joaquin Valley later in the day.
Purdue said clear conditions are expected to last through Sunday and potentially into Monday. Later in the week, a high pressure system may return, which could allow fog to form again, she said.
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