Summer Encore Sets Record as Mercury Hits 98

Temperatures shot to a record-breaking 98 degrees downtown before noon Thursday as a high-pressure system compressed fall air, drew in hot desert breezes and sent throngs of swimmers and surfers to the beaches.

The National Weather Service said the weather system, of the type that is usually centered at sea, hovered over the Southern California land mass Thursday, drying and heating San Diego County from the shore to the desert.

The weather resembled a Santa Ana, but forecaster Wally Cegiel said it was caused by a different phenomenon.

“This is a very large, intense high-pressure area that negates sea breezes and creates a warm easterly flow of desert air,” Cegiel said. “The high is centered here. During a Santa Ana, it is centered over the Great Basin, and a low pressure here draws in the hot air.”

Thursday’s weather system, although not rare in October, is more common in August and September, Cegiel said.

The high at Lindbergh Field Thursday of 98 was reached by 11:43 a.m., while the humidity plummeted to a low of 17% by noon. The previous record of 94 was set in 1953.

The temperature downtown had cooled to 84 by 4 p.m.--still 9 degrees above the average seasonal temperature of 75 at Lindbergh Field.

Temperatures reached 84 in Del Mar, 100 in Fallbrook, 97 in National City, 93 in Point Loma, 95 in Ramona and 105 in Santee Thursday. Temperatures in all areas are expected to be slightly cooler today but still above normal. Humidity should continue to be a low 30% to 40%.

Crowds took to the ocean in the heat, taxing small school-day lifeguard crews. Heavier surf was up on south-facing beaches, and an advisory was issued for waves up to eight feet through today.

Lifeguard John Lee said about 26,000 people flocked to city beaches Thursday--double the norm for a fall weekday. “They’re keeping us busy on a condensed staff,” he said. “We cut way back at the end of September--but we can always call for reinforcements.”

Along state beaches in North County, lifeguard towers had been pulled off the sand, but supervisor Leonard Ortiz said patrols in Jeeps made rounds all day.

“For this time of year there were a lot of people. But we always get some late hot spells. We will have patrols in every sector of the 13.4-mile stretch on the weekend, but we haven’t decided if we will put out towers,” Ortiz said.

High temperatures are expected to be in the 80s today at the beaches, with slight cooling to the 70s on Saturday.

The high-pressure system is expected to move eastward today, allowing an onshore flow to bring in moisture, ocean breezes and night and morning low clouds. Sub-tropical air may move into the mountain and desert areas late Saturday.

Coastal lows are expected to be in the high 60s through Saturday.

Inland valley highs in the 90s today may fall slightly to the 85- to 93-degree range Saturday, with nighttime lows around 60.

Mountain skies will be sunny today and partly cloudy Saturday with a chance of thundershowers late Saturday afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s will dip to around 50 at night.

Desert highs are expected to be between 93 and 103, with lows of 63 to 73.