Muggy Weather Is Expected to Linger After Putting Record Strain on SDG

High temperatures and tropical air combined Thursday in San Diego County to create record demands for electricity and prompt the issuance of a heat advisory.

And more muggy days sandwiched between patchy night and morning low clouds are forecast for most of the county this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

“Basically, what we have had in the last two days is what we will have this weekend, with a drying trend, slowly--but very slowly--on Sunday,” forecaster Harvey Hastrup said.

Heat Advisory

A heat advisory was issued Thursday for inland areas, and it may be put into effect again today if the mercury tops 90 degrees, Hastrup said. The advisory is primarily a warning to the elderly to refrain from outdoor activity.

Electricity consumption reached a new high Thursday afternoon with a peak demand of 2,533 megawatts, 10 megawatts higher than the previous record set July 22, according to San Diego Gas & Electric.

The high temperature at Lindbergh Field hit 83 Thursday, 6 degrees shy of the all-time high for an Aug. 25. Other high temperatures in the county Thursday were Borrego, 108; Santee and Campo, 94; Escondido, Fallbrook and El Cajon, 92; Alpine and Ramona, 91; La Mesa, 90; Coronado, 82; Chula Vista, 80; Del Mar, 77, and Oceanside, 72.

Hastrup said the muggy weather is caused by moist tropical air moving out of Arizona and Mexico. This high pressure system is also responsible for the scattered showers and thunderstorms over the mountains, he added.

“By Sunday, the responsible factors for all this weather will drift south and we will have less moisture,” Hastrup said. “A cooling trend will then begin along the coastal areas.”

Coastal highs will range from 74 to 79 today through Saturday, dropping a few degrees on Sunday, along with the humidity. Overnight lows will be 65 to 70.

The surf will be 2 to 3 feet, with ocean temperature near 64 degrees.

Inland valleys are supposed to have highs between 92 and 98 today and Saturday, slipping into the mid and upper 80s on Sunday. Overnight lows are to be from 67 to 72.

Partly cloudy afternoons and evenings are predicted for the mountain and desert skies this weekend, with a good chance of thunderstorms by tonight. Mountain highs will range from 77 to 85 today and Saturday. Lows will be in the 60- to 68-degree range. Deserts will have highs from 98 to 106 and lows from 78 to 86 through the weekend.