Heat Eases Only Slightly and More of Same Expected Today

It was only slightly cooler and less smoggy in the Southland Saturday than the day before, and the outlook for today is for much the same kind of eye-stinging air and high temperatures.

Eleven areas, including downtown Los Angeles, went through first-stage smog alerts for varying periods during the day, meaning that the air was unhealthful for everyone. The day before had been the smoggiest in two years.

Temperatures generally were a few degrees lower, with the thermometer peaking at 91 in downtown Los Angeles, only three degrees less than Friday.

In San Diego, the air was generally cleaner and temperatures milder. Only El Cajon and Escondido were listed as having unhealthful air quality, said a spokesman for the San Diego Pollution Control District.

In east San Diego County it reached about 95 degrees, while downtown San Diego was generally mild with a high of 77 degrees.

The National Weather Service said that the smog and heat were due largely to a high-pressure system dominating the area and lack of wind.

A weak sea breeze of about 10 m.p.h. did spring up along the coast late in the afternoon. The forecast for today was “more of the same,” according to a weather service spokesman. The forecast calls for generally fair skies, except for fog and low clouds along the coast, and continued high temperatures through Monday.

The San Diego coastal area will be mostly sunny today with low clouds and areas of dense fog in the early morning and late night. Highs will be about 79 with lows about 64.

Inland highs both days will be in the 90s, with a high of 95 expected in El Cajon. Lows should be in the 60s.

The deserts will be clear and hot, hitting 115 in some spots. Mountain areas will be in the 80s.

Smog Alerts

The South Coast Air Quality Management District said that first-stage smog alerts were called at various times in downtown Los Angeles, the east and west San Fernando Valley and in the west, east and south San Gabriel Valley, San Bernardino Valley and the centeral San Bernardino Mountains. The highest reading Saturday was 270 PSI (Pollutant Standard Index) in the east San Gabriel Valley.

The district’s forecast for today was for first-stage alerts in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys and in the Riverside-San Bernardino area.