Fog Expected to Give Way to Sun for the Weekend

After slightly cooler temperatures today, the weekend should be warmerand sunnier, weather officials said Thursday.

A low-pressure system will arrive in San Diego County today, leading to lower temperatures, National Weather Service forecaster Dan Atkin said.

The system will “deepen the marine layer, continuing the fog and low clouds” that have caused visibility problems along the coast, he said.

The heavy fog has created headaches for lifeguards. A lifeguard’s primary concern is that dense fog prevents him from seeing swimmers and surfers who may be in danger, said James Frazee, a Pacific Beach lifeguard.

Another lifeguard concern involves recreational boaters.

“Boaters try to feel their way along the surf line, then they get caught in swells, and then they could get smashed onto the rocks, or onto the beach,” Frazee said.

With the news of today’s impending low-pressure system, lifeguards will try to ensure that they “have plenty of pilots to man our patrol boats and in-surf boats,” Frazee said. He also noted the increasing use of wave-runners, large model jet-skis, during heavy fog.

Highs in the coastal areas today will be in the 70- to 75-degree range, with lows between 56 and 62 degrees, Atkin said.

But, by Saturday, the high-pressure system is expected to rebuild, increasing high temperatures to the 78- to 86-degree range. Lows Saturday should be 48 to 56 degrees. Sunday’s temperatures should be a few degrees warmer than Saturday’s, the weather service said.

The inland areas can expect a high temperature today of 78 to 86. Atkin said highs on Saturday and Sunday could reach 90 degrees inland. Inland lows will be 43 to 56 degrees all weekend, Atkin said.

The mountains will have highs in the 70s this weekend, and lows in the 40s, the weather service said. Atkin said to expect temperatures to increase a few degrees on Sunday.

Desert highs Friday and Saturday will be between 86 to 94, lows will be in the 52- to 60-degree range, Atkin said. Sunday highs and lows will be 2 to 3 degrees higher, he said.