No Relief in Sight for Hot, Muggy Days and Sultry Nights

The muggy, nearly suffocating conditions in San Diego will persist, at least through the middle of next week.

Ditto for the thunderstorms in the mountain areas.

The temperatures will lower a few notches today due to low clouds that crept in along the coast overnight and a weakening high pressure system.

“It feels more like a pressure cooker when the temperature is hot and the humidity is high,” National Weather Service forecaster Wilbur Shigehara said.

The dissipating hurricane Genevieve, about 800 miles south of San Diego and heading toward Hawaii, will add to the humidity over the next few days by sending moisture our way, he said.

The news of no immediate relief came as a double blow to some Borrego Springs residents.

“It’s the humidity and heat that’s making it unbearable,” Shigehara said. “When I told them it may be another week, they said they give up. It’s too hot.”

The temperature Saturday at Borrego Springs reached 104 degrees with 35% relative humidity. Shigehara said “comfortable” humidity at that temperature would be 10% to 15%.

“I think we can take the temperatures,” Shigehara said. “But when you throw in the humidity, and throw in the warm nights, that’s enough to finish us all off.”

The weather in downtown San Diego yesterday was not as sweltering as Borrego Springs, but it was a sticky 81 degrees with 70% relative humidity yesterday.

In addition to heat, mountain areas were hit with thunderstorms and lightning Saturday.

Mount Laguna reported more than 2 inches of rain Saturday. A flash-flood watch remained in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday. The thunderstorms and lightning will probably continue in the mountains and deserts for most of the week.

Beach temperatures are slightly cooler, ranging 72 to 76 degrees, though the water temperature is extremely warm, hovering around 74 degrees.

The coastal sections will have highs of 76 to 85. The temperatures will barely change overnight with lows up to 73 degrees.

The inland valleys may reach 96 degrees today.