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Santa Ana winds today will clear skies, clog sinuses, raise temperatures and create what may be the first perfect beach weekend of the year.

Lifeguards in Huntington Beach said the sands already were crowded by Friday afternoon as temperatures there crept into the low 80s. Weather forecasters said it will only get better.

Temperatures in most cities in Orange County are expected to be in the mid-80s today, although they may creep into the low 90s in some inland cities, said Robb Kaczmarek, a meteorologist with WeatherData, which provides forecasts for The Times.

Because of the high temperatures, which are unusual in April, lifeguards expect to see a crowd this holiday weekend.

“It’s as busy today as a summer weekday,” said lifeguard Matt Norton, noting that the beach usually is usually hidden under a blanket of fog this time of year. “It is clear and it is going to be gorgeous this weekend.”

The Santa Ana winds are bringing the heat, as they blow from the north and east across the hills ringing the county, which compresses the air and heats it.

But the Santa Anas are expected to subside as the weekend progresses, Kaczmarek said, and the mercury will dip slightly as they do.

By Sunday, he said, the high temperature could be down to the mid-70s in parts of the county.