Warm Weather to Take a Rest, Return Monday

The high pressure system that has brought unseasonably warm weather to San Diego should break up by Friday, bringing cooler weekend weather, the National Weather Service said.

“The high pressure that’s covering Southern California is causing the warm temperatures and keeping storms away at the same time,” forecaster Wilbur Shigehara said. “By Friday the high pressure will weaken a little and bring in night and morning low clouds. The temperatures will come down slightly to seasonal levels.”

Temperatures Wednesday soared 10 degrees above the normal 68 degrees for this time of year, but did not break the record high of 82 degrees set in 1985. The low temperature at Lindbergh Field was 57 degrees.

Despite the warmer weather, city lifeguards reported light crowds at the beaches Wednesday.

“We thought we’d have a whole rush of people,” one Mission Beach lifeguard said. “But we only have about 2,000 people.” Silver Strand Beach lifeguards reported even smaller crowds.

The cooling trend will bring hazy skies in the mornings and evenings, but Shigehara said the afternoons will continue to be sunny through the weekend.

The break in the warm weather will be momentary; clear skies and higher temperatures will return to the county Monday or Tuesday as the high pressure system builds back up, Shigehara said.

“People who like warm temperatures will like the weather,” Shigehara said.

Coastal highs will be between 75 and 80 degrees Friday with low temperatures ranging between 50 and 57 degrees. Ocean water temperature will be 59 degrees.

Inland highs will remain in the 80-degree range through the weekend with lows between 47 and 53 degrees.

A few afternoon clouds will dot the skies this weekend and high temperatures will be between 65 and 75 degrees.