If you’ve lived in the Central Valley for more than a week, you know the drill. You wake up, look out the window, and can’t see your own mailbox. That's January in Visalia for you. Right now, as of January 18, 2026, we are deep in the thick of it—literally.
People look at a visalia ca weather 10 day forecast and see "sunny" or "partly cloudy" and think they're getting a beach day. Honestly, that’s the first mistake. In the San Joaquin Valley, "sunny" in the forecast usually means "sunny... after the Tule fog decides to lift at 2:00 PM." If it lifts at all.
The Current Situation: Fog and "Valley Winter"
Right now, the mercury is sitting at a crisp 45°F. It’s nighttime, it’s cloudy, and the humidity is a heavy 85%. If you’re heading out early, be careful. The National Weather Service has been keeping a close eye on a Dense Fog Advisory that’s been hugging the region, and it’s not expected to fully clear until around noon on Monday.
The wind? Basically non-existent. We’re looking at a 1 mph breeze from the northeast. It’s that stagnant, damp cold that just kind of sticks to your bones.
Breaking Down the Next 10 Days
So, what does the actual visalia ca weather 10 day forecast look like for the rest of the month? It’s actually surprisingly consistent, which is a bit of a relief after the atmospheric river drama we saw back in the first week of January.
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- Sunday (Today): We’re hitting a high of 60°F. It’ll be sunny once the fog breaks, dropping to 42°F tonight.
- Monday, Jan 19: Almost a carbon copy. High of 60°F, low of 41°F. Perfect for a light jacket, but don't forget the heater in the morning.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: This looks like the "warm" peak of the week. We’re jumping up to 64°F. It’ll be partly sunny, though the clouds will start rolling back in by evening.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: Mostly cloudy with a high of 62°F.
- Thursday, Jan 22: Back to mostly sunny skies. High of 61°F, low of 43°F.
As we move toward next weekend, the highs stay locked in that 61°F to 63°F range. Lows are hovering right around 42°F or 43°F. It’s standard-issue Visalia winter. You aren't going to see any snow—leave that for the folks up in Three Rivers or Sequoia—but you’ll definitely want to keep an umbrella tucked in the trunk just in case those 10% precipitation chances turn into a surprise drizzle.
Why the Forecast Can Be Deceiving
The thing about Visalia is the "micro-climate" created by the mountains. While the visalia ca weather 10 day forecast shows UV indexes around 2, which is low, the humidity remains high, consistently between 63% and 76%. This keeps the air feeling damp.
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When you see a forecast for 60°F, it feels a lot colder if the sun hasn't managed to pierce through the valley ceiling. Local experts often point out that our "winter" is less about the temperature and more about the visibility. Just last Thursday, on January 15, we had an injury accident at the intersection of Chinowth Street and Goshen Avenue specifically because of the foggy conditions.
Survival Tips for the Week
- Check your headlights. Don't be that person driving through a Dense Fog Advisory with no lights on.
- Layer up. The 20-degree swing between the morning low and afternoon high is enough to make anyone lose their mind.
- Mind the "Wet" Days. While we only have about a 10% chance of rain most days this week, January is historically our wettest month. We've already had over 2 inches of rain this month, so the ground is saturated.
Actionable Steps for Visalia Residents
If you’re planning your week based on the visalia ca weather 10 day forecast, focus on the midday window. Between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM is your best bet for outdoor activities like a walk at Mooney Grove Park.
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Keep an eye on the Dense Fog Advisory updates, especially if you commute via Highway 99 or the 198. The air quality is also worth watching; when the air sits still like this, the fireplace smoke and vehicle exhaust have nowhere to go.
Check your tire pressure too. These consistent 40°F nights can trigger that annoying "low pressure" light on your dashboard. It's a quick fix at any of the local stations on Mooney, but it's better to do it now than when you're running late in the fog.