Many mornings this winter have been foggy across the South Valley of Kern County, with residents noting the unusual consistency of dense fog. The National Weather Service in Hanford maintains detailed records that help put the recent pattern into perspective.
Historically, the 1946–1947 winter season holds the record with 49 dense fog days—defined as days when visibility drops to a quarter mile or less at any point. Winters of 1984–1985 and 1965–1966 both had 33 dense fog days, placing them at the lower end of the Top 10.
With Tule Fog season continuing into February, this winter could potentially climb onto that list, as the current weather pattern favors more foggy mornings.
Drivers are reminded to exercise caution during dense fog: slow down, keep headlights on low beam, and maintain extra distance from the vehicle ahead.