NWS San Diego has issued an advisory warning residents of increasing wind gusts for Friday afternoon. In particular, desert mountain slopes and passes are expected to be hit with gusts ranging from 30-40 mph, with the potential for localized gusts to reach up to 50 mph. "Wind Gusts Friday Afternoon" highlights the amplified conditions expected and advises the community to prepare for a blustery day, as per NWS San Diego.
Further details from the Area Forecast Discussion by the National Weather Service San Diego CA reveals a cooling trend that will to spread inland today due to a weak pressure system moving through Southern California. Saturday's high temperatures will be "mostly around 5 degrees below average," providing a respite from the typical heat for many, with temperatures near the coast in the mid-60s and reaching the 90s in the lower deserts. Moreover, a Wind Advisory is in effect from 5 PM this afternoon to 3 AM PDT Saturday for the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, impacting any travel plans through the area.
The marine layer is slowly deepening, which could impact regional visibility. Areas such as KONT and KSBD have a 40% and 20% chance, respectively, of reduced visibility. Strong west winds with gusts potentially up to 35- 50 kts this afternoon over mountains, passes, and desert slopes could also lead to visibility issues due to blowing dust.
Marine conditions near San Clemente Island may be rough this afternoon with winds gusting to around 20 knots and waves reaching 5-7 feet, though conditions are expected to improve by Saturday morning. For those drawn to the coast, be aware that the south-southwest swell will increase from today into Sunday. The NWS San Diego forecasts "surf of 4-6 feet and sets up to 7 feet possible Saturday through Monday with a high rip current risk." However, surf conditions are anticipated to begin subsiding on Tuesday.
