Those hoping for classic midsummer weather in San Diego are in luck. While clear skies are expected Saturday, there remains a slight chance of afternoon showers or an isolated thunderstorm across the city and surrounding mountain areas, including San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) San Diego.
Drier conditions are forecast to prevail heading into Sunday and the upcoming week. Marine layer clouds are anticipated to briefly appear during nighttime and early morning hours, particularly over coastal and valley regions. However, daytime conditions should remain generally clear. Inland temperatures are expected to stay near seasonal averages, alleviating excessive heat concerns.
The National Weather Service notes that, "for Monday through the end of next week...the pattern will be dominated by low pressure troughing over the west coast," meaning the marine layer will continue to play a consistent role in shaping coastal and valley cloud cover during the overnight and early morning periods.
Early risers on Saturday may have observed a more prominent marine layer than usual, attributed to an upper-level low-pressure system directly over San Diego County. This feature has allowed low clouds to extend inland toward the foothills and even approach the fringes of the Inland Empire. However, cloud intrusion has been limited farther north in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties due to a prevailing northeast flow aloft.
For those on or near the coast, conditions appear favorable. The NWS reports that no hazardous marine weather is expected through at least Wednesday. However, Aviation interests should note that there is a 15–20% chance of isolated thunderstorms (ISO TSRA) over the mountains this afternoon, with potential cloud bases reaching 10,000 feet. Any developing activity could bring erratic wind gusts and temporary visibility restrictions. Skies are expected to clear after 8:00 p.m. local time (20/00Z), providing more tranquil conditions heading into the workweek.
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