Inland Warmed, Coast Cooled by Low Pressure

Hot weather and low pressure in the deserts will continue to pull moist marine air inland, causing night and morning fog and low clouds along the Southern California coast through the weekend, the National Weather Service said Thursday.

The forecast was for little or no change in the pattern of warmer-than-normal temperatures in most Southland areas, but normal or slightly cooler-than-normal readings near the beaches.

In Orange County, high temperatures are expected to range from the upper 60s to mid-70s at area beaches, and from the mid-70s to 80 degrees inland. Overnight lows will range from 57 to 62 degrees.

On Thursday, the mercury reached 81 degrees in El Toro, up from an overnight low of 59. In Newport Beach, temperatures ranged from a low of 59 degrees to a high of 69 under hazy, overcast skies.

Mountain resorts were expected to have highs of 76 to 86, while the readings will range from 94 to 102 in the high deserts and from 102 to 108 in the low deserts.

Surf was expected to average two feet from Huntington and Newport beaches to Mission Beach in San Diego, with a southerly to southwesterly swell. Little change is expected Saturday. One- to three-foot surf was forecast at Zuma Beach and along Santa Monica Bay.

Light, variable winds in the night and morning hours were forecast for inner coastal waters from Point Conception to San Clemente Island and the Mexican border through tonight, picking up to southwesterly winds of 12 to 18 knots during afternoon and evening hours, with one- to two-foot seas.

West to northwesterly winds of 12 to 18 knots were forecast for outer coastal waters through Friday night, with three- to six-foot seas.