Mercury to Fall; Records Might, Too : There’s Just 1 Word for Weather Forecast: Cold

While last weekend’s temperatures were the coldest in almost a year, this weekend’s forecast is for the coldest temperatures in almost a decade, the National Weather Service said.

“This is shaping up to be the coldest winter we’ve had in San Diego in about 10 years,” forecaster Wilbur Shigehara said, “and this weekend will be the coldest yet this winter.”

An agricultural frost warning has been in effect since last Friday, and even areas not accustomed to overnight frost might be seeing some by Saturday morning, Shigehara said.

“We should get some close-to-record lows,” Shigehara said. “It will definitely be colder than last weekend. It got down to 24 (degrees) then, and will be colder still. How cold? Near 22 degrees in areas such as Bonsall, Escondido and low-lying areas like Pauma and San Pasqual Valley.

“Even places like La Jolla and Point Loma, places that usually don’t get frost, could very well see some this weekend.”

Shigehara said “dangerous” temperatures and frost durations will develop in the coldest agricultural areas tonight and Saturday.

“Luckily, we’ve been aware that these conditions were on the way for the past three days or so, and most of the growers have been able to pick their crops,” he said.

With temperatures near or below freezing expected in all San Diego areas, the lack of moisture is the only obstacle to it snowing, Shigehara said.

“Sure, it’s going to be cold, but it’s also going to be dry and sunny, if a bit too windy,” he said.

A travelers’ advisory has been issued for the mountains and deserts because of the expected strong winds. Gusts as high as 30 to 40 miles an hour are forecast for tonight in those areas, Shigehara said. Fifteen- to 20-mile-an-hour winds are expected in most other county areas.

Overnight lows at Lindbergh Field are expected to be only a few degrees above the record mark of 34 degrees for mid-January and the lowest maximum temperature recorded for today’s date, 53 degrees in 1913, will also be rivaled.

“It’s going to come pretty darn close,” Shigehara said. “We’re going to have a hard time getting out of the 50s for the entire weekend, and we just might creep below that 53-degree mark.”

Highs at the beaches and the inland areas will be in the 54- to 60-degree range today and Saturday, creeping up a degree or two by Sunday. Lows at the beaches will be in the 30s, with lows in most inland areas in the 20s.

Mountain highs will not get above freezing, Shigehara said, peaking at about 30 degrees all three days. Lows will be in the teens in most higher-elevation areas, though low temperatures near 5 degrees may occur at the highest elevations of Mount Laguna.