The National Weather Service San Diego has issued some guidance for weather patterns in the upcoming week. Southern Californians can expect a continuation of warmth today, with temperatures hovering 3-7 degrees above normal. This trend follows into Sunday, as reported by an NWS update. However, a minor reprieve from the heat is on the horizon, with temperatures predicted to cool around 5 degrees on Monday, except for desert areas.
Increased onshore flow will bring cooler air on Monday and Tuesday, as stated in an Area Forecast Discussion by the National Weather Service San Diego. The mild cooling phase results from a ridge flattening in response to an upper-level trough moving inland across the Pacific Northwest. Nevertheless, the deserts will still experience a few degrees of warming. Breezy conditions could be felt throughout the desert slopes, with gusts potentially reaching 30-40 mph in some areas, especially on Monday afternoon and evening.
Marine layer low clouds along coastal areas may start appearing as early as tonight, though they are expected to be patchy against continued high clouds. Regarding precipitation, prospects remain slim, with the NWS forecast mentioning "patchy marine layer drizzle at best" and a minimal chance of light precipitation on Tuesday morning. The rest of the week should remain dry.
By the mid to latter part of next week, another wave of weak offshore flow coupled with minor warming is anticipated. The consensus remains split about the latter part of the week, with ensemble solutions varying on the strength of any potential offshore flow and the resulting temperatures. "Only 27% of the members bring the wave far enough south and west for relatively stronger (weak to moderate) Santa Ana Winds yet cooler weather here, while the remaining 73% would result in warmer and less breezy weather," according to the National Weather Service.
For aviation interests, VFR conditions are expected to prevail this evening, with high clouds above 20,000 feet MSL continuing to stream from the northwest. Marine layer clouds could cause low ceilings and patchy fog around coastal areas early Monday morning. No hazardous marine conditions are expected through Thursday, and Skywarn activation is not currently requested. Nonetheless, the NWS encourages weather spotters to report significant weather conditions.
