Weather to Shine on Padres

This should be one of those weekends that fair-weather fans have been dreaming about all winter.

While the Padres are still in the thick of the pennant race, fans can really enjoy this weekend’s homestand, thanks to some timely weather. Sunny afternoons and warm temperatures are expected all weekend, forecasters said.

Low clouds should keep the temperatures from plummeting at Jack Murphy Stadium and the rest of the county at night, said Wilbur Shigehara, chief forecaster for the National Weather Service in San Diego.

“It’s going to be real nice for all the visitors to San Diego and for baseball,” Shigehara said.

For those who prefer the beach instead of baseball, summer-like water temperatures are waiting, Shigehara said.

“At La Jolla Pier, it’s approaching 66 degrees already,” Shigehara said. Ocean temperatures are running about 4 degrees above normal, he said.

Along with the evening low clouds, there will also be early-morning low clouds and possibly some fog, Shigehara said.

Sunshine will break through around mid-morning all weekend, except at the beaches, where sunshine is expected to take a little longer to make an appearance, Shigehara said.

The temperatures at the beaches will be near 70 degrees all weekend. Small waves will make the water optimum for diving, Shigehara said.

The coastal area, including downtown, is expected to have highs from 67 to 74 this weekend. The lows will be near 60, Shigehara said.

The highs inland will be near 76 degrees this weekend, with lows in the 60s, he said.