Valley fog in Chico (Fresno, Sacramento: living in, move to, install)

[Destiny2008]

We assume Chico gets valley fog in the winter. How long does the fog last -- days, weeks? Does it usually burn off by the afternoon? Is visibility next to nothing? And is it a big concern or not? Thanks.

[Clarks]

It gets it, the fog is related to high pressure, when there is high pressure there is fog. When there is fog, you know it will be a bright sunny day in Paradise and the Sierra. Sometimes it burns off, some times it doesn't

[FresnoFacts]

KC6ZLV is the climate expert, hopefully he will chime in.

Off the top of my head I think the Chico area sees something like an average of 28 to 30 days or so each year of fog. That would be the # of days over a winter that the visibility gets down to 1/4 mile or less.

[KC6ZLV]

Chico gets fog. Unlike locations to the south, it usually clears out by mid-morning. On occasion the foggy stratus stays around for a few days. Southern Butte County is about the northern limit for perpetual fog, but they have had years where they have had a lot of fog.

[Clarks]

Many years ago I had a Chevy pickup truck in Paradise with a 216 splash feed engine, I figured I would swap it out for a 235 from Junky George's. I thought Heck it is cold in Paradise and it might snow, I will take to Chico, lower elevation, warmer. I got socked with fog for the whole time it took me to pull the 235, rebuild it, and install it into the Chevy. Froze my tuckas working in an alley on my truck. Fog here on the Central Coast is much kinder, warmer.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by Clarks

Fog here on the Central Coast is much kinder, warmer.

That's because it comes in July, Clarks.

[Clarks]

Rather kind of it isn't it. Tis true, there is nothing colder than the winter pogonip of the Nevada valleys, fog so cold that it freezes to your windshield and builds up much faster than the defroster can get rid of it.

[VulcanRabbi]

I was born in Chico in 86 and for a few years we lived there in which Dad commuted to Payless Drugs in Paradise to work. One year there was literally almost a month of fog with temps around 40F or lower and we had to constantly use the fireplace day and night.

Dad would drive up to work in Paradise into glorious sunshine and 55-60F weather! It was partially what made us move to Paradise until Payless Drugs had a layover and let go of everybody for no reason.

[Hawk J]

Live on the side of a mountain at about 2000', southern exposure, if possible. You will get much more sunshine in the winter. This is also true living in southwest Oregon.

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by KC6ZLV

Chico gets fog. Unlike locations to the south, it usually clears out by mid-morning. On occasion the foggy stratus stays around for a few days. Southern Butte County is about the northern limit for perpetual fog, but they have had years where they have had a lot of fog.

This is pretty much the size of it. Marysville/Yuba City are the northern reaches of the potentially really bad fog. Its not to say it can't happen north of there, but its just not as severe. I've lived in Modesto area, Merced and Fresno and this part of the Sacramento Valley is a cakewalk compared to down there for Tule Fog.