Autumn Weather Makes an Early Appearance

Fall has arrived early in San Diego, as the weekend weather forecast calls for cooler-than-average temperatures, a slight chance of rain and near-freezing low temperatures in mountain areas.

“Fall doesn’t officially arrive until Sept. 23, but it sure feels like it’s already here,” said National Weather Service forecaster Wilbur Shigehara. “The cool temperatures are primarily the reason everyone is talking about the change, and we might see more clouds as well.”

While the late-summer pattern of night and morning low clouds clearing to cool but sunny afternoons should linger through next week, a storm that is 500 to 700 miles west of San Diego might bring some light showers to the area Saturday, Shigehara said.

“There’s only about a 10% chance of rain,” he said. “A weak storm has been gradually moving toward us, but if we do get any rainfall it will hardly be anything, just a trace. This will mean that the afternoons won’t get the sunshine we expect them to, but a lot of people prefer this cooler weather in comparison to some of the hot Septembers we’ve had here in San Diego.”

Temperatures at Lindbergh Field have been three or four degrees below average since Tuesday. On Thursday, the high temperature was 73 degrees. The average for Sept. 11 is 77.

Highs will range from 68 to 73 degrees at the beaches today, and 65 to 69 Saturday and Sunday.

“This is not very good beach-going weather,” Shigehara said. “The ocean water temperature is back down to 66, and the clouds will be lingering for a longer time than is usual for September.”

High temperatures in inland valleys will be in the 73- to 79-degree range today, and will dip to 72 to 77 by the weekend. Lows will drop to 55 to 60 tonight, and another degree or two Saturday.

Mountain highs will be between 68 and 78, and lows will be a very cool 38 to 48 tonight, and just slightly above freezing Saturday and Sunday.

Desert highs will be 94 to 98 today, and 87 to 95 Saturday and Sunday. Lows will be in the mid-60s.

“People going out at night should bring a sweater or wrap with them,” Shigehara said. “We definitely don’t expect nighttime temperatures to be like they were a few weeks ago. I think fall has arrived for good.”