Sizzling Sun Turns Heat Up to Melt Another Record

Just to prove that nature doesn’t listen to mere mortals, this weekend’s Santa Ana condition turned its back on forecasters’ predictions of cooler weather and brought yet another day of record-setting heat.

The mercury surged upward in all areas of the county, breaking a 65-year-old record in downtown San Diego, where the temperature hit 93 degrees. The previous record was 82 in 1923, said Dan Atkin of the National Weather Service.

But, the forecasters promise, temperatures will drop 10 to 20 degrees today. The end of the Santa Ana will be heralded by the return of coastal night and morning low clouds and strong cool winds by tonight, Atkin said.

Saturday’s torrid temperatures sent an estimated 107,500 people to the beaches, causing lifeguards to keep a wary eye on those who ventured into the 60-degree water.

“There are rather severe rip currents this time of year,” Mission Beach lifeguard John Murrieta said. “It’s a typical spring condition.” There were 36 rescues on city beaches.

One swimmer, an unidentified 14-year-old boy, was taken to Sharp Cabrillo Hospital, where he was treated and released after nearly drowning off Ocean Beach.

“There were four people standing knee deep in the water in front of our tower one moment, and when they got off their feet, the strong rip current pulled them out,” Ocean Beach lifeguard Quentin Norman said, adding that the teen had clung to his mother and both were swept into the surf.

“She started to panic also, and they pulled each other under,” Norman said. “It was pretty precarious.” The mother and the others did not require hospitalization.

The Santa Ana also brought unwelcome smog, prompting a pollution alert between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday. Residents from Pt. Loma north to the Orange County line, and from the coast to 15 miles inland were warned to stay inside, avoid physical exertion and refrain from driving. Smog levels were highest in Oceanside, where an unhealthful Pollutant Standards Index reading of 225 was recorded.

Local police had braced themselves for other problems that were expected to arrive with the beach crowds but were pleasantly disappointed. A San Diego Police Department command post set up in Mission Beach reported no problems other than severe traffic gridlock and lack of parking. Police blocked off traffic into the beach area at 1 p.m., allowing only drivers with identification showing that they lived in the area past the blockades.

The beach highs Saturday ranged from 79 degrees in Oceanside to 92 in Coronado. High temperatures elsewhere in the county peaked at 102 degrees at Miramar Naval Air Station and 101 in Borrego. The Miramar reading, along with a 102 in Thermal, Calif., was the highest in the 48 contiguous states, the National Weather Service reported.

Temperatures were reported in the 90s in most areas of the county, with occasional temperatures in the 70s and 80s in the mountain and beach areas.

Today will remain fair and sunny, with coastal highs of 74-79 and lows of 56-61. Inland highs will reach 78-86, with nighttime lows of 48-56. In the mountains, high temperatures are expected to be from 64 to 72, with lows of 44-52. The deserts will remain hot today, with highs of 86-94 and lows of 52-60.