More of Same Expected by Friday : Heat Wave, Smog to Take a Breather

San Diegans can expect a two- to three-day respite from the smog and scorching heat that has held a chokehold on the county. But officials forecast a return by Friday of much of the hot and muggy weather that blanketed the county over the weekend.

Monday’s inland high in El Cajon was 93, down from 105 Sunday. The high at Lindbergh Field Monday was 83, with a low of 68.

The forecast for today through Friday calls for a return to night and morning low clouds and fog along the coast and inland valleys, with highs in the 70s at the beaches, in the low 80s along the coastal strip and as high as 99 degrees inland.

In the mountains, highs will be in the low 90s, with possible afternoon and evening thundershowers.

Even the desert areas are experiencing a cooling trend, officials said.

Borrego Springs, usually the hot spot in East County, reached a high of 104 on Monday, down from 119 just three days ago. Desert highs today are expected to reach 102 to 110 degrees.

The cloud of smog that blew in from Los Angeles and Orange counties dispersed Monday afternoon, dropping smog levels throughout the county to within the standards for healthful air.

In El Cajon, the smog level dropped Monday to 67 on the pollution standard index, with 100 being the standard for healthful air. The level in El Cajon Sunday was 150.

The Air Pollution Control District advised those with heart or respiratory problems to avoid strenuous activity over last weekend, and the district expects to issue the same warning for the coming weekend when another high pressure ridge promises to push another cloud of polluted air down from the north.