Fair Skies, High Tides and Surf in Store for San Diego

Temperatures will remain mild throughout the weekend but the surf won’t, as breakers up to eight feet are predicted for most San Diego County beaches, the National Weather Service said.

A storm over the east Pacific Ocean will raise the surf to between five and eight feet, which is considered dangerous for swimming, forecaster Wilbur Shigehara said. People visiting west-facing beaches such as La Jolla, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are especially warned to use caution when in the water or near the shoreline, he said.

“We’re advising surfers and swimmers not to go around the rocky areas because of the heavy surf’s very unpredictable nature,” Shigehara said. “At this point we are just putting out statements, not heavy surf advisories. When advisories are issued, it means property damage is expected, and this is not the case.”

The highest tide since the late 1960s, 7.8 feet, is predicted for Wednesday, Shigehara said, higher even than the 7.5-foot tides that ravaged area beaches in the disastrous March, 1983, storms. Even this weekend’s tides will be larger than normal, as Sunday’s high tide is to reach 6.9 feet.

“Needless to say, it’s going to be quite treacherous out there,” he said. “We’ve been busy warning people about the high tides, and people seem to be a lot more aware of what to expect this time (than during the big 1983 storms). . . .Our long-term charts indicate this dry, mild spell will continue through next weekend, but even if we don’t get a storm here, a storm somewhere out in the Pacific could mean trouble. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

For the next few days at least, coastal areas will remain fair with occasional high clouds. High temperatures will be between 65 and 70 degrees, with lows of 41 to 48. Ocean water temperature is near 61 degrees.

Inland highs will range between 68 and 73, with lows of 35 to 45. Shigehara said there might be brief periods of frost in the coldest areas.

Mountains and deserts will also continue to be fair with occasional high clouds and gusty winds through Sunday. Mountain highs will be in the 45- to 53-degree range, with lows between 25 and 33. Desert highs will be in the low 70s and between 37 and 45 overnight.

“The skiers are really complaining because the snow is nothing to speak of,” Shigehara said. “The storms that have come through just haven’t been cold and wet enough to generate the stuff. In fact, as far as we can tell, there won’t be any snow at least through the new year.”