Honestly, if you're looking at the weather Sacramento California 5 day outlook right now, you might think it looks a bit... boring. Sunny, partly cloudy, maybe a few degrees of shift here and there. But if you actually live here—or you're planning to drive the I-5 or Highway 99 this week—you know that the "sunny" icon on your phone is a dirty liar.
It’s Tule fog season.
Right now, as of Friday, January 16, 2026, Sacramento is sitting at a crisp 54°F. The air is heavy, the humidity is hanging out at 75%, and that southwest wind is barely moving at 2 mph. It feels still. It feels quiet. And for the next five days, that stillness is exactly what's going to trap the moisture in the valley, creating that thick, "pea soup" fog that makes morning commutes feel like a scene from a low-budget horror movie.
The 5-Day Breakdown: What’s Actually Happening
Forget the generic forecasts. Here is the ground-level reality of what we're looking at for the next several days.
Friday, January 16: The Setup
Today’s high is hitting 58°F, which sounds pleasant enough for a walk in Land Park. But tonight, the temperature drops to 40°F, and the humidity is spiking to 80%. The National Weather Service is already flagging a 40-60% chance of dense fog developing after midnight. If you're out late, expect visibility to drop to less than a half-mile in some spots.
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Saturday, January 17: The Grey Blanket
Tomorrow is basically a repeat, just slightly cloudier. We’re looking at a high of 57°F and a low of 41°F. It’s going to be one of those days where the sun tries to break through around noon but mostly just gives up. Humidity stays high at 81%. Basically, keep your headlights on even if it’s noon.
Sunday, January 18: The Brief Warm-Up
Sunday is the "peak" of the week. We’re actually hitting a high of 61°F. It’ll be mostly sunny in the afternoon, which is perfect for hitting the Midtown Farmers Market. But don't get too comfortable; that 41°F low at night ensures the fog will be right back by Monday morning.
Monday, January 19: MLK Day Conditions
For the holiday, we're back to a high of 58°F. It’s sunny, but the air is getting even wetter with 84% humidity. Winds are almost non-existent at 2 mph from the north. This is prime "stagnant air" territory.
Tuesday, January 20: More of the Same
We wrap up the 5-day window with a high of 59°F and a low of 40°F. There’s a tiny 5% chance of rain during the day, which basically means you might see a stray drop on your windshield, but nothing that’s going to wash the dust off your car.
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The Tule Fog Factor: What Most People Get Wrong
Most people think fog is just "clouds on the ground." In Sacramento, it's more like a living thing. Tule fog (named after the tule grass in the wetlands) happens when the ground is damp from previous rains—like the atmospheric river we saw earlier this month—and the sky is clear at night.
The heat escapes into space, the ground cools down rapidly, and boom: you’re driving in a white void.
The danger isn't just the visibility; it's the "phantom" nature of it. You’ll be driving at 65 mph in the clear, and suddenly you hit a wall of grey where you can't see ten feet in front of you. Local experts from the National Weather Service in Sacramento have been stressing this for years: never use your high beams in this stuff. It just reflects off the water droplets and blinds you. Use your fogs or your lows.
Is Rain Coming Back?
A lot of people are asking if the dry spell is the end of our winter moisture. The short answer: No.
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While the weather Sacramento California 5 day forecast shows mostly dry conditions, there’s high uncertainty for the following weekend. Some models are hinting at another system moving in by late next week. We’re currently in a ridge of high pressure, which is acting like a giant umbrella over Northern California, pushing the storms up into the Pacific Northwest. Once that ridge breaks down—likely around January 22nd or 23rd—the "storm door" might swing back open.
Actionable Tips for This Week
Since we aren't dealing with a massive blizzard or a 100-degree heatwave, your focus should be on visibility and air quality.
- Check the "SFC Viz" (Surface Visibility): Before you head out for work, check the local NWS "Area Forecast Discussion." They use a metric called HREF that predicts the chance of visibility dropping below 1/4 mile.
- Layers, obviously: A 40°F morning and a 61°F afternoon is a 21-degree swing. You'll want a heavy coat at 7:00 AM and a light sweater by 2:00 PM.
- Watch the Air Quality: Stagnant air during fog events often traps particulates from wood-burning fireplaces. If you have asthma, keep an eye on the AQI levels, as they tend to creep up when the wind stays below 5 mph.
The valley is beautiful this time of year, even with the grey. Just make sure you're driving for the conditions, not the speed limit.
Next Steps for Staying Safe:
- Monitor the National Weather Service Sacramento social media feeds for "Special Weather Statements" regarding morning visibility.
- Check your car’s exterior lights; Tule fog is the worst time to have a burnt-out tail light.
- Plan for an extra 15 minutes on your commute through the I-5/99 interchange through Tuesday.