Live marine layer dashboard
Los Angeles Fog Map and Forecast
A fast, forecast-first view of where Los Angeles fog and low clouds are now, when they may clear, and how the marine layer is expected to move from the beaches across the basin, valleys, foothills, and Inland Empire.
3D marine layer
Fog layer map
Use the presets to jump to common fog corridors, then play the 36-hour timeline to watch fog spread inland and clear back toward the coast.
Los Angeles satellite
Latest Los Angeles satellite loop
Use this animated GOES-West loop as live cloud context for the fog map, city forecasts, and coast-to-inland marine-layer timing.
Reading the forecast
How to read the fog map
The white layer is the forecast fog and low cloud field. Brighter, more continuous shading means a stronger fog signal; thin or broken shading means the edge is uncertain and nearby neighborhoods may look different.
Use the time control like a clock. If the white layer pushes inland from the Santa Monica Bay, South Bay, or Orange County coast, the marine layer is spreading across the coastal plain. If it pulls back toward the beaches, clearing is underway.
Terrain matters. Low clouds usually reach the beaches first, then follow the coastal plain and lower passes toward the basin and valleys. The city table is the point forecast; the map shows the nearby hills, valleys, and edges that explain why one neighborhood can be gray while another is clear.
For the longer-term pattern, compare annual fog hours on the Los Angeles fog heat map.
FAQ
Los Angeles fog forecast questions
Is the Los Angeles marine layer the same thing as fog?
No. The marine layer is cool, moist ocean air capped by an inversion. It often produces low stratus clouds, but it becomes fog only where that cloud reaches the ground and reduces visibility.
When does the Los Angeles marine layer usually clear?
Coastal low clouds often thin from late morning into the afternoon, but clearing time depends on marine-layer depth, onshore flow, and distance from the ocean. Some beaches can remain gray all day.
How far inland can the marine layer reach?
A shallow layer may stay near the beaches. A deeper layer with stronger onshore flow can spread across the coastal plain, into valleys, and occasionally toward mountain passes.
Is this an official visibility forecast?
No. It is planning guidance built from regional point forecasts for low clouds and visibility. Use National Weather Service advisories and local observations for safety-critical decisions.