County Will Keep Sizzling This Weekend

Fall is only two weeks away, but the heat wave hitting the county this weekend will make it seem more like the middle of July, according to the National Weather Service in San Diego.

“The high-pressure condition that gave us the hottest June and July in five years is the cause,” said forecaster Wilbur Shigehara.

The high pressure, situated over Oklahoma, is pushing its way westward, Shigehara said. “We are already under the influence of the high pressure. The temperature Wednesday and Thursday was 82, 5 degrees above the norm.”

Temperatures through the weekend will range from 3 degrees above the norm along the coast to 5 degrees in the inland areas. “We will have lots of sunshine, and I don’t think we’ll see too much of the low clouds and fog along the coast except in the morning hours,” Shigehara said.

Winds bringing moisture from Mexico are circulating around the high pressure and will cause thunderstorms to erupt over the mountain and desert areas during the afternoon and evening hours through Sunday, he said. The lightning and thunder displays could spread west of the mountains into Alpine and other outlying areas Saturday and Sunday.

The heat wave should recede toward the middle of next week, with temperatures returning to the norm of about 77 degrees at Lindbergh Field, and the coastal clouds will return, he said.

At the beach, temperatures will range from 70 to 77 today and through the weekend. The water temperature will be about 70, with surf at 3 to 4 feet.

In the coastal areas, temperatures will range from 78 to 86, decreasing to 60 to 70 at night. Inland areas will see temperatures of 87 to 97, with nighttime lows of 60 to 67.