Brief Indian Summer Due to Warm the Weekend

Just when San Diegans thought they would never get one, the weekend forecast is for Indian summer, complete with warmer-than-usual days and mild, clear nights.

But a National Weather Service forecaster cautioned against breaking out the shorts and packing away the sweaters, because the warming trend is expected to last only through Sunday.

“This weekend the weather will be on the verge of being an Indian summer,” said forecaster Wilbur Shigehara of the National Weather Service. “The reason why I’m hesitating about just calling it one is that when you say Indian summer, it gives the impression it will last awhile. However, in this case, it’ll last this weekend and shut down early next week.”

The weekend warming trend is the result of increasing high pressure over the area and a shift in the upper wind flow, Shigehara said. He added that Thursday’s cool temperatures and cloudy skies were the remnants of the low-pressure system that has been over San Diego since the Labor Day weekend.

“There is still the ghost of the low pressure over us, as would be the case when any type of weather condition had existed for such an extended amount of time,” Shigehara said. “In fact, I received about six calls asking if it was going to rain (Thursday), but of course this did not turn out to be the case.”

The high temperature at Lindbergh Field Thursday was only 68 degrees, while the average for that date is 74. In comparison, the high is expected to reached 77 or 78 degrees there by Saturday, while average for the date is 73, Shigehara said.

The low clouds are expected to burn off at the beaches by mid-morning, and high temperatures should reach between 69 and 71 today, increasing to 70 to 74 degrees by Saturday and Sunday. Overnight lows will be between 57 and 62 all days.

“It should be good beach weather,” Shigehara said. “The surf will be two to four feet and the water will be quite bearable, about 65 degrees.”

Inland highs will be between 75 and 82 today, increasing to 77 to 87 Saturday and Sunday. Lows will be in the 50s.

“It might get a little too warm inland, but there will be a markable decrease in the morning low clouds,” Shigehara said.

Mountain high temperatures will be in the mid-60s today, reaching 70 by the weekend. Lows will be between 35 and 45 tonight and 38 and 48 Saturday and Sunday. Desert highs will be in the upper 80s today and the low 90s Saturday and Sunday, with lows in the 50s.

“So the high pressure is moving in and we can expect a heck of a lot more sunshine this weekend,” Shigehara said. “The clouds will decrease and people should plan on spending a lot of time outdoors enjoying the sunshine.”