Dense Fog — Visalia - Porterville - Reedley, California

2024-12-20 · Visalia - Porterville - Reedley, California

Event narrative

Visibility below a quarter mile was reported in Reedley and visibility of one eighth of a mile was reported in Visalia and Porterville. Webcams indicated visibility below 1000 feet in Visalia, Tulare and Porterville. Several school districts either opened late or delayed or cancelled bus service due to low visibility.

Wider weather episode

Mainly clear skies prevailed across the area during the evening of December 19 as high pressure remained over central California. With winds remaining light across the San Joaquin Valley along with the presence of low level moisture from recent rainfall and inversion conditions, areas of dense fog formed in the San Joaquin Valley during the evening of December 19 along portions of the SR 99 and SR 198 corridors which reduced visibility to an eighth of a mile. The fog expanded overnight and prevailed over much of the of the San Joaquin Valley by sunrise resulting in several school districts either opening late or delaying or cancelling bus service on December 20. The fog lifted into a low cloud deck by late morning and dissipated in the afternoon.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1221016. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.