San Diego residents should brace themselves for cooler temperatures and gusty conditions through the weekend, as forecasted by the National Weather Service (NWS). According to NWS San Diego, westerly winds will sweep across the mountains and deserts each afternoon and evening through Saturday, with gusts as high as 60 mph likely below the passes and 25-40 mph along the desert slopes and foothills. Temperatures today will dip around 4-7 degrees below the norm for most areas, with the lower deserts still experiencing slightly above normal temperatures.
Further cooling is expected on Saturday, with highs plunging as much as 10-15 degrees below average inland, as reported by the NWS Area Forecast Discussion. The forecast indicates "extensive night and morning low clouds west of the mountains," a byproduct of a deepening marine layer. For beachgoers, it might be a gloomy start to the weekend with coastal areas potentially remaining overcast throughout the afternoon.
As for aviation, pilots in the coastal and valley regions can expect marine layer clouds to result in ceilings around 1300-1500 feet MSL and possible visibility issues in eastern valleys and where clouds intersect with higher elevations. "Low clouds will clear to the coast by late morning," according to the NWS Area Forecast Discussion, though clear skies prevail elsewhere. Mountain and desert regions will see clear skies and unhampered visibility until the late afternoon, when westward winds are forecast to intensify.
Mariners should heed warnings of northwest wind gusts reaching 20-25 knots near San Clemente Island later today, although no other significant marine hazards are anticipated through Wednesday. In the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, a Wind Advisory is in effect from this morning to Saturday evening, cautioning of potent winds and potential travel disruptions.
