As the thermostat climbs, San Diego and its neighboring counties brace for more than just beach weather, with the National Weather Service issuing an Excessive Heat Warning until Thursday evening for multiple inland areas. According to forecasts, Wednesday's high temperature in San Diego County may reach between the upper 90s to 108 for inland valleys, while coastal regions can expect a slightly cooler mid to upper 70s.
The mercury isn't the only thing rising, as coastal low clouds could spread into the valleys each night, offering a mild reprieve from the daytime sizzle. However, these same conditions also carry a "less than 15 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms to the mountains as early as Friday afternoon", as reported by the National Weather Service. Inland Empire and Lucerne Valley residents should prepare for a scorching range between 105 to 114 degrees. Conversely, in Orange County, beach-side temperatures should remain in the refreshing mid to upper 70s.
A slight cooling trend is on the horizon towards the weekend, as temperatures dip a few degrees, though still remain above seasonal averages inland. The marine influence will persist, with morning fog potentially rolling over coastal areas into the western valleys. Meanwhile, for those seeking a mountain retreat, elevations from 4500 to 7000 feet can enjoy the mid-80s to mid-90s.
Weather continuation into the week suggests a pattern of gradual cooling accompanied by a 15 to 25 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, primarily for the mountains and deserts during the afternoon and early evening on Saturday and Sunday. As we peek into next week's expectations, the forecast indicates that by Tuesday, temperatures will become "a few degrees above average for the deserts, and slightly below average near the coast to around 5 degrees below average for the valleys", the Area Forecast Discussion notes.
