As the Labor Day weekend approaches, the weather forecast for Southern California offers a mixed bag of conditions. According to the National Weather Service San Diego, there is a slight chance for afternoon storms today across the Riverside and San Bernardino mountains. Temperatures in San Diego County are expected to range from the low to mid-70s near the coast to the upper 80s to low 90s in the inland valleys.
In Orange County, residents should prepare for similar patterns with temperatures from the lower to the mid-70s near the coast to the lower to mid-80s inland. A greater spike in temperature is predicted for the Inland Empire, soaring in the upper 80s to upper 90s, while the lower deserts could hit highs between 106 to 110 degrees. The NWS also forecasts high temperatures for the mountains at elevations from 4500 to 7000 feet, expected to be in the mid-70s to upper 80s.
Further analysis from the National Weather Service indicates that moisture levels will become more elevated this afternoon into Saturday, particularly across the lower deserts. Moisture levels become more elevated by this afternoon into Saturday, with PWAT values nearing one inch across the lower deserts, the area forecast discussion notes. The chances for showers and storms stand at 10-15 percent for the mountains in the Riverside and eastern portions of San Bernardino. As the high-pressure area shifts eastward on Saturday, moisture inflows are expected to facilitate storm development most notably in mountain areas and portions of the high desert north of Big Bear.
Looking ahead into next week, temperatures are expected to rise. The High pressure over the Intermountain West will slightly strengthen and expand across the Desert Southwest region leading to a significant warming trend with highs potentially 5 to 10 degrees above seasonal averages. Residents in coastal areas can anticipate highs in the 80s, while triple-digit heat is likely for the deserts, San Diego County foothills, and the Inland Empire. With this surge in temperatures, the heat risk becomes a concern, especially for those sensitive to heat, with risk levels predicted to reach moderate and high by the middle of next week.
For maritime interests, no hazardous marine conditions are worth noting through Tuesday. Sky conditions for airplanes remain mostly clear this morning, with the possibility of a few afternoon thunderstorms over the mountains. As for the marine layer, the National Weather Service anticipates a shallower presence leading to patchier clouds near the coast and a chance for a stunning beach sunrise. As always, local weather spotters are encouraged to report significant conditions, although Skywarn activation is not requested at this time.
