Sunny, Warm for Weekend : Winter Will Be Coming In Like a Lamb

While you’re basking under bright blue skies and unseasonably warm temperatures this weekend, forget the fact that Saturday is officially the first day of winter. Obviously, the weatherman has.

Even though the weak Santa Ana that has brought warm, dry conditions over the last four days will dissipate by today, skies will continue to be clear and temperatures warm through Sunday, the National Weather Service predicted.

A high-pressure system dominating the Pacific Coast states will keep the clouds away and allow only a slight drop in daytime temperatures through Sunday, said forecaster Wilbur Shigehara.

Saturday marks the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year (sunset at 4:47 p.m.), but temperatures in the coastal areas will be in the high 70s the entire weekend. Daytime temperatures in the inland areas will be 75 to 83 Saturday, and only slightly cooler on Sunday.

Nighttime temperatures in all areas will drop at least 30 degrees from the daytime highs because of clear skies and dry air, Shigehara said. Overnight lows on the coast will be about 49 and inland, 45.

“It’s not that unusual for Southern California to get this kind of condition in December,” Shigehara said. “The warm days and cool nights are very characteristic of San Diego.”

Despite a brownish haze which was visible over the horizon Thursday, air quality was listed as “very good” by the San Diego Air Pollution Control District.