Signs of Summer : Weather: Crowds descend on county beaches for the three-day weekend that kicks off the season. Mild temperatures are expected.

Balmy breezes and mild temperatures are expected to bring an onslaught of early summer revelers to Ventura County’s beaches and campgrounds over the Memorial Day weekend, a three-day holiday that traditionally signals the start of summer.

“If it’s warm, everyone from Camarillo to Valencia will wake up and say, ‘Hey, we’re not hanging out here. Let’s go to the beach,’ ” said Kirk Sturm, a lifeguard at San Buenaventura State Beach. “We could be overrun. We’re anticipating being pretty busy this weekend.”

Normally four lifeguards are on duty, but 10 have been scheduled to work this weekend, Sturm said.

Forecasters say some pleasant beach weather is expected this weekend. Skies will be partly cloudy inland through Sunday and mostly clear Monday, said Steve Burback, a meteorologist for WeatherData Inc., a private firm that does forecasts for The Times.

Temperatures will be in the low 70s to low 80s inland, and low 70s are expected for the coast, Burback said. “There will be some light winds. It will be real pleasant,” Burback said.

The nice weather should also draw out boaters in large numbers--many of whom have not been boating all winter and whose nautical skills will be rusty, authorities said.

Using past Memorial Day weekends as their guide, the Coast Guard expects to handle about 20 boating distress calls this weekend from San Mateo Point to the Santa Maria River, said Petty Officer Scott Wassermann. “They could be anything from a jump-start to a collision,” he said.

Many of the distress calls could be avoided if boaters were better prepared for the ocean, Wassermann said. “Everyone’s going into the garage and blowing the dust off their boats and putting them in the water,” he said.

The Coast Guard has not increased its staff for the weekend, but a greater number of search and rescue volunteers will be on call, Wassermann said.

Those who remain will also find congested freeways, campgrounds and shopping malls.

The California Highway Patrol is stepping up its patrols this weekend. About 85% of all available officers will be out on the freeways to handle the increased traffic accidents, vehicle breakdowns and drunk drivers, said CHP Officer Mark Hodges.

“Everybody and their brother is planning on a trip,” Hodges said. “It’s a fling-before-summer thing.”

Most campgrounds in the county will be filled this weekend, said Kevin Johnson, a park aide at McGrath State Beach. All 174 campsites at McGrath have been reserved for more than a week, he said.

“It gets hectic,” Johnson said. “It’s the beginning of the rush for June. Every weekend from now on will be full.”

Retailers are increasing sales staff in anticipation of bargain hunters taking advantage of Memorial Day sales.

People come to shop for summer and vacation clothes, said a salesclerk at The Broadway department store in The Oaks Mall.

“It’s not as hectic as Christmas, because people are more relaxed, more casual, and they don’t feel like they absolutely have to buy something,” the saleswoman said. “Memorial Day weekend is a biggie for us.”