Heat Makes for a Record-Setting Fry Day Along County’s Beaches

If statistics were kept on the gallons of suntan lotion spread on bodies at San Diego beaches in the spring, Friday surely would have been a record-setter. Instead, more conventional records were broken on a day that drew a mass of humanity not seen on county beaches since last summer.

Friday’s temperatures melted away a record high for the day that had stood the test of 41 years, and thousands flocked to the shore in search of relief.

“It’s busier than your average summer day,” said Ron Trenton, senior lifeguard at La Jolla Shores.

An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 people descended along the sand from La Jolla to Ocean Beach, said city lifeguard Barry Gamboa. He said lifeguards made about 22 routine rescues; there were no serious injuries.

‘An Extreme Abnormality’

“This was an extreme abnormality to have this many people on March 25,” Gamboa said. “It was close to probably a record crowd.” Gamboa said he did not have figures for the same day last year.

At least 100,000 people a day are expected at city beaches this weekend, he said, as San Diego elementary and secondary school students begin their weeklong spring breaks amid the good weather, and thousands of college students continue their breaks.

“From now to Easter it’s the busiest time,” said Mission Beach lifeguard Richard Haynes.

Hordes of local and out-of-town college students, along with high school students who were starting their spring breaks early, headed for the cooler coastline Friday, where temperatures peaked in the high 70s. The high at Lindbergh Field was a record 89 degrees and occurred at about noon. It shattered a 1947 high for the day of 86 degrees.

“We earned it; we’re seniors,” said Morris High School student Enrique Avila, who along with 15 classmates from the East San Diego school played hooky to spend the day at La Jolla Shores.

“Knowing that there’s a beach waiting for you, it’s just hard to concentrate in school,” said Helix High senior Shawn Nocon, who was tanning with a classmate and her brother at Mission Beach after taking algebra and English tests earlier in the day.

Norma Trost, spokeswoman for the San Diego Unified School District, said local elementary and secondary schools did not experience unusual drops in attendance Friday, but she acknowledged that some students skipped school to “take advantage of the good weather.”

“We certainly do not encourage it,” she warned.

Beach businesses were thriving Friday.

“We have about 100 bikes and they’re pretty much out,” said Ray Hamel, who owns a sports shop on Ventura Place in Mission Beach. “All these kids are coming out from the inland areas saying it’s cooking out there.”

Water Still Cold

The heat forced many to brave still-low water temperatures--near 60 degrees at most beaches. Others, such as U.S. West Cellular employee Brian Murphy, enjoyed merely spending a lunch hour at the beach in his striped tie and white shirt.

“It’s hard to take a lunch like this and go back to work,” said Murphy, who was having a cold beer for lunch at La Jolla Shores. “It’s got to be a ‘10’ day.”

Still, there were some who saw the day differently.

“I’d say it’s too hot,” said Colorado resident Jack Coots, who sat in his Buick Skylark with his wife, Della, at La Jolla Shores watching the waves as ice cream melted onto their hands.

“It’s as hot as I’ve ever seen it this early,” he said.

For the weekend, forecaster Wilbur Shigehara of the National Weather Service warned, “People planning to go to the beach might be disappointed . . . because temperatures will get cooler.”

The forecast calls for a cooling trend to begin along the coast today and move into inland areas Sunday. Beach temperatures will be in the mid 70s today and in the 60s Sunday, Shigehara said.