Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sacramento, CA
Issued by NWS Sacramento, CA
119 FXUS66 KSTO 232052 AFDSTO Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sacramento CA 1252 PM PST Fri Jan 23 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Valley low clouds/fog potential through Saturday morning. - Fog potential diminishes Saturday-Sunday as north to northeast winds increase tonight into Saturday. Strongest gusts over the mountains. - Dry weather prevails this weekend, followed by renewed fog potential early next week. && .DISCUSSION... ...Today Through Sunday... Current GOES-West satellite imagery shows diminishing fog and low clouds across the Valley this afternoon as an upper low continues it`s path across southern California. The Dense Fog Advisory has been allowed to expire at 1 PM, although patchy areas of fog still persist across the Valley. Fog chances return tonight into tomorrow morning. Probabilities for visibilities 0.5 mile or less are 40 to 60% from the southern Sacramento Valley and southward, with the highest probabilities around the Sacramento metropolitan area. Remember to use low-beam headlights when driving through fog, exercise caution, and slow down. As northerly winds increase this afternoon and into tonight, any fog present should quickly diminish. Strongest winds are expected Saturday along the western side of the Sacramento Valley (I-5 and westward) and in the mountains. Probabilities of gusts in these areas are 60-80%. Relative humidities will also trend lower over the weekend with these winds, especially over the mountains, foothills, and in the northern Sacramento Valley. No precipitation is expected with this weekend`s system. ...Next Week... As ridging builds back in early next week the potential for Valley low clouds/fog returns, though exact chances remain uncertain for the time being. Otherwise, cool and calm weather is expected for the start of the week. Mid to late next week a slight chance for unsettled weather returns as troughing attempts to move into the area. Ensembles show a range of solutions, though all of them are limited to minor impacts at most. Some solutions have dry weather through next week, while others show light rain and a dusting of high elevation snow. Check in with the forecast periodically for updates. && .AVIATION... VFR conditions prevail at RDD and RBL through the forecast period with lingering MVFR/IFR conditions in BR/FG and low clouds expected across the Delta, northern San Joaquin Valley, and remaining Sacramento Valley. VFR conditions on the fringes of the fog/stratus deck may briefly spread inward after 00z. Widespread IFR/LIFR in FG/BR then redevelops after 03z-06z Friday with similar areal extent excluding the northern Sacramento Valley. Increasing northerly winds gusting 15-25 kts develop after 06z Saturday across the northern Sacramento Valley and extend southward after 12z. Stronger east-northeast winds anticipated along the Sierra after 06z, with gusts 30-40 kts. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$