San Diegans, brace yourselves for a scorcher. The National Weather Service in San Diego is ramping up warnings as temperatures in the inland valleys are expected to rise. According to a statement from the NWS San Diego Forecast Office, "Heat Advisories are in effect for the inland valleys from 10 AM Monday through 6 PM Tuesday." The advisory comes as temperatures are slated to climb even higher than yesterday's highs, with inland areas feeling the brunt of the heat spike.
Forecasters note this warmth isn't a brief guest but a prelude to the week's peak temperatures. NWS San Diego says, "The high temperatures for tomorrow and Tuesday will be the warmest of the week, and especially within the inland areas." Residents are advised to keep cool and stay hydrated during this period. Beating tomorrow's highs, likely to surpass the 100-degree mark in the Inland Empire (IE), the forecast calls for an ample supply of mid-level monsoonal moisture, which may allow showers and isolated thunderstorms to cool things off, albeit marginally.
Adding a hint of unpredictability to the heatwave, monsoonal moisture promises a chance of showers and thunderstorms in certain areas. The Area Forecast Discussion from the National Weather Service indicates that showers and thunderstorms are possible "in the mountains and deserts each afternoon, and possibly for the inland and coastal areas by later in the evening tomorrow through Tuesday morning." This shift in moisture levels is expected to coincide with the heat advisory and could contribute to a potentially oppressive combination of high temperatures and humidity.
While the immediate outlook seems stifling, relief is on the horizon as the region enters the latter half of the week. "A gradual cooling trend will occur going into the latter half of the week, although temperatures will remain slightly above the seasonal average for this time of year," the forecasters at NWS San Diego assess. Despite the spike in onshore flows, the marine layer will start to assert itself more primarily near the coastal areas towards the end of the week.
Advisories extend beyond the thermometer. Coastal visitors should heed the active Beach Hazards Statement, which warns of elevated surf and strong rip currents persisting through late Monday. South-facing beaches, in particular, may experience surf heights reaching up to 6 feet with potential sets up to 7 feet, creating a high risk for rip currents for all beachgoers.
