Heat, Humidity on the Way, but Ocean Is Ripe for a Dip

Break out the electric fans; get pool-side or beach-bound. The postcard-perfect weather San Diego has been experiencing all week is scorching to a halt.

Beginning today, the forecast calls for warmer temperatures intensified by high humidity, the National Weather Service reported. Hazy skies and periodic clouds complete the picture.

“We’ve had real Chamber of Commerce weather this week, but that will all change as early as Friday,” forecaster Wilbur Shigehara said. “We’ll see more humidity, more haze, more clouds and a return to thunderstorms in the mountains.”

A growing high-pressure system over the Southwest is responsible for the warming trend, Shigehara said. Moisture will blast into San Diego from as far away as the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican state of Sonora, raising humidity about 10% above normal for this time of year.

Beach highs through the weekend will remain constant, ranging from 70 to 76 degrees. Night and morning low clouds will intensify, giving way to sunshine in the mid-afternoon, Shigehara said.

The ocean temperature is near 70, “about as warm as it ever gets,” Shigehara said. The surf is 3 to 5 feet.

Highs along the coast today will be 76 to 82, nudging up a couple degrees Saturday and Sunday. Increased humidity will make for warmer nights, ranging from 64 to 68 degrees.

Inland highs are expected to be 83 to 93 degrees today and as high as 95 degrees on the weekend. Overnight lows of 60 to 65 degrees are forecast.

In the mountains, the forecast calls for partly cloudy skies today with a slim chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms, increasing over the weekend. Daytime highs are to 80 to 90 today and 85 to 92 Saturday and Sunday. Lows will be 50 to 60 Friday and 58 to 65 Saturday.

The desert forecast calls for cloudy skies developing into afternoon and evening thunderstorms.