If you’ve lived in the Southern San Joaquin Valley for more than a week, you know the drill. You wake up, look out the window, and literally can’t see the mailbox across the street. It’s that thick, "Tule fog" season. Honestly, checking the Bakersfield 14 day forecast right now is less about finding out if it’s going to rain and more about figuring out if you can safely drive to Ming Avenue without ending up in a ditch.
Today is January 16, 2026. Right now in Bakersfield, it’s a crisp 63°F. It’s actually pretty sunny at the moment, with a light northwest wind blowing at 4 mph. But don't let that fool you. If you’re planning your next two weeks, things are about to get a little weird, especially with the humidity hovering around 50% to 61%.
The Fog and the "False Spring"
Bakersfield is famous for its January mood swings. One minute it’s 66°F and sunny (like it is today), and the next, a Dense Fog Advisory is pinned to the top of every weather app. The National Weather Service just issued one that lasts through late morning, and basically, these visibility issues are going to be a recurring theme for the first half of our 14-day window.
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The big misconception is that "sunny" means "warm" in a Bakersfield winter. It doesn't. While we might hit a high of 66°F today, the low is dropping to 44°F tonight. That’s a 22-degree swing. If you’re heading out to MLK Park for some drop-in pickleball or just walking the dog at Yokuts Park, you need layers. Seriously.
What the Next 14 Days Actually Look Like
Looking ahead through the rest of January, we’re seeing a shift from this "dry and foggy" pattern into something a bit more active.
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- The Immediate Outlook (Days 1-3): We’re staying mostly dry. Friday is sunny with that 66°F high. Saturday starts seeing more clouds.
- The Mid-Period Shift (Days 4-8): By Monday and Tuesday (Jan 19-20), the chance of rain starts creeping up. While today’s precipitation chance is a flat 0%, long-range models suggest some "unsettled" weather moving in. This usually means light Valley sprinkles and maybe some actual snow for our neighbors up in Tehachapi.
- The Late January Cool Down: Toward the end of the month, around January 25-30, temperatures are expected to dip back into the high 50s for daytime highs.
Why the Humidity Matters More Than the Temp
People look at a 60-degree day and think "t-shirt weather." In Bakersfield, 60 degrees with 60% humidity feels like a damp chill that gets right into your bones. It’s a "wet cold."
The humidity is also the engine for the fog. When the wind is calm—like the 4 mph breeze we have now—the moisture just sits in the valley. If you're looking at the Bakersfield 14 day forecast to plan a trip over the Grapevine, keep an eye on those wind speeds. Calmer winds mean higher chances of "LIFR" (Low Instrument Flight Rules) conditions, which is weather-speak for "you can’t see anything on the 99."
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Real-World Impacts for Kern County
- Driving: Cottonwood Road is currently closed for reconstruction between East White Lane and East Pacheco Road. Combined with the fog, that's a recipe for a headache.
- Air Quality: There’s currently a "No Burning" status for all of Kern County. Even if it feels cold enough for a fireplace, the valley air is stagnant.
- Events: If you’re gearing up for the Stockton Restaurant Week (starting today through the 25th) or planning to head south for whale watching, the valley weather is your gatekeeper.
Surviving the Bakersfield Winter
Honestly, the best way to handle the next 14 days is to ignore the "high" temperature and dress for the "low." The sun feels great at 2:00 PM, but by the time the sun sets at 5:09 PM, the temperature craters.
If you're a gardener, keep an eye on those overnight lows. While we aren't seeing a hard freeze in the immediate 48-hour outlook, those 44°F nights can easily dip lower in the outlying areas like Rosedale or Arvin.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your headlights: With fog advisories expected to continue through the weekend, make sure your low beams are working (never use highs in the fog).
- Plan for indoor activity mid-week: Rain chances increase significantly after January 20th.
- Monitor the AQI: Since fireplace burning is currently restricted, ensure your HVAC filters are clean to handle the stagnant valley air.