As the week unfolds, a notable shift in Southern California's weather pattern is set to bring a wave of changes to the region. According to the National Weather Service San Diego, today's high-pressure system will gradually ease, replaced by a low-pressure system moving inland on Friday night which, as the skies waver between sunshine and clouds, residents can look forward to temperatures cooling down to a more comfortable range that hovers a few degrees around the average by the weekend.
The upcoming changes are not merely about the drop in the thermometer readings, while the region braces for an end to the spell of highs that have clocked in at around 10 degrees above the seasonal average as forecasted by a recent social media post from NWS San Diego, the cooling pattern brings the most notable changes to inland locales such as the Inland Empire and low desert areas where the risk of heat has hovered at moderate levels these areas that have been basking or rather sweltering, under significantly higher temperatures are expected to experience considerable relief by Saturday.
High temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above average will create a moderate HeatRisk for some inland areas through tomorrow, particularly the low deserts and Inland Empire! pic.twitter.com/nlHY9fxGzu
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) May 21, 2025
In addition to temperature shifts, the coastal regions of California are set to experience a deepening marine layer through Saturday. This change, resulting in night and morning low clouds, will progressively reach further inland into the valleys each morning. Coastal low clouds will not spread as far into the valleys on Sunday, and the onshore flow will strengthen, bringing gustier winds blowing southwest to west for the mountains and deserts. Gusts today could soar to 30 to 40 mph, and on Thursday, even higher, stepping up to 35 to 45 mph.
The respite following the sweltering heat is, however, a temporary interlude, with Sunday poised to bring a modest rise in temperatures, about 5 degrees warmer, before a gradual cooldown to near-average temps by next Wednesday settles in the region will be under the influence of a weak upper-level low pressure, deepening the marine layer once more with resultant night and morning coastal low clouds reaching inward across most of the inland valleys and hinting at slower or more limited afternoon clearing along the coast.
