Winds Ease, Temperatures Creep Above 90

The Santa Ana winds that caused so many problems in Ventura County earlier this week dissipated Tuesday, leaving behind temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal.

Thousand Oaks hit 96 degrees, Simi Valley 94, Oxnard 91 and Ventura 89, said Jeff House, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times. None of the highs set a record.

Temperatures more reminiscent of summer than fall sent some people to the beach.

“Even though the surf is small, I couldn’t pass it up,” said freelance graphic artist David Mejia of Moorpark, as he basked on a bench overlooking Ventura’s Surfers Point. “This is the best time around here for weather. Just don’t tell anybody.”

Temperatures today should cool by another 8 to 10 degrees along the coast and by 5 degrees inland, and should return to normal by Thursday, House said.

“The real Santa Ana business is over,” he said.

County fire crews that fought an 80-acre blaze in Moorpark were sent home about noon Tuesday, said Sandi Wells, a spokeswoman with the Ventura County Fire Department. The cause of the blaze is not known.

Fire officials had upgraded their alert status to the second-highest of four stages, in anticipation of further problems. However, the winds died and no more fires were reported.

“We figure it’s best to be over-prepared than be under-prepared,” spokesman Joe Luna said.