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California’s Central Valley has been enshrouded in mist for greater than per week due to the realm’s notorious tule fog.
The picture under reveals California as seen from area by a Nationwide Aeronautic and House Administration satellite tv for pc system. On the left is what the state appeared like on Oct. 29, 2025 — earlier than a serious storm introduced record-setting rainfall — and on the proper is identical view on Nov. 27, in the course of the days-long stretch of tule fog.
Technically generally known as radiation fog, the climate phenomenon is the results of a mix of “a cool, moist layer of air from the Pacific near the floor, clear skies above and lightweight winds,” in response to the Nationwide Climate Service. Most persistent in valleys the place the wind can’t sweep it away, the rule fog has been a essential character in California for many years. It causes pileups, traps airborne pollution and has even impressed poetry about its haunting magnificence.
The NWS forecast reveals a lot of the Central Valley — together with Merced, Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield — must be spared from essentially the most hazardous situations Monday night, then the fog is anticipated to once more thicken in a single day and attain Degree 3 of the climate service’s five-level fog severity index, indicating reasonable danger and half a mile of visibility.
In previous years, tule fog has brought about legendary and tragic pileups alongside Central California highways.
One of many worst such fog-caused chain-reaction accidents concerned 108 automobiles and closed Freeway 99 for greater than 12 hours in November 2007. The collision unfolded over 10 minutes and resulted in two fatalities and 40 accidents.
As of Monday, no main pileups had been reported after 9 straight days of fog.
The fog isn’t all dangerous: It’s beloved by growers of crops equivalent to almonds, apricots, cherries, peaches and pistachios as a result of it helps the timber to fulfill the dormancy requirement needed to supply flowers and fruit. The timber want this relaxation interval to supply excessive yields throughout the rising season.
The California Freeway Patrol means that, if attainable, drivers postpone journeys till the fog lifts. These driving in foggy situations ought to drive with lights on low beam, the CHP says. Drivers mustn’t comply with too intently behind different automobiles and may keep away from crossing visitors lanes.
Visibility could be lowered to 10 toes, and the fog could be disorienting, inflicting motorists to drive sooner than they notice. Drivers mustn’t cease on highways besides in emergencies. Drivers and passengers ought to transfer away from disabled automobiles. Drivers are urged to observe for CHP tempo automobiles guiding automobiles via the fog.
Occasions employees author Paul Duginski contributed to this report.
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