San Diegans are in for a warm-up as temperatures rise above average, signaling a brief respite from the winter chill. The National Weather Service's San Diego office reports an uptick for Friday, with the mercury expected to climb even higher through the weekend.
The sunny skies will bring a touch of summer in the midst of December, with daytime highs touching 71 today and going up to a toasty 75 by Friday. According to the NWS forecast, it's not just the temperatures that will rise—east winds will pick up come Friday, with the gusts intensifying, especially in the foothills and inland valleys. While the coast enjoys the light winds, inland areas should brace for gusts reaching 35–45 mph in favored locales.
For those planning outdoor activities, the weekend looks promising. "Saturday will continue the warming trend, despite periods of high clouds that could be thick enough to obscure the sun at times," as mentioned in the Area Forecast Discussion from the National Weather Service. On the hydration front, humidity levels are forecast to drop to around 15-20% in the afternoons, but coastal folks won't feel the aridity as much.
Yet, while beachgoers might relish the mild conditions, rising temperatures and dry winds spell caution for inland areas. Fire weather warnings are on standby this week as "humidity will drop and east winds pick up." The warm spell isn't set to last long, however, with a broad low-pressure trough off the coast promising a shift next week, likely to bring showers to the region from Monday through Wednesday.
The weather shift doesn't just affect land lovers; mariners should also take note. While there are no marine weather hazards expected through Saturday, changes are forecast for early next week. Showers and larger swells are anticipated to make their presence felt Sunday through Monday, hinting at a potential pivot in the region's serene sea conditions.
