As Southern California braces for a surge in temperature, NWS San Diego forecasts a "heat peak" on Thursday and Friday with highs 3-10 degrees above the norm inland, so if you're uneasy about the climbing mercury levels, it's time to crank up that AC. According to NWS San Diego, monsoon moisture, the seasonal visitor that brings with it showers and thunderstorms, is set to make a return, initially hovering over the mountains and high desert come Thursday and pressing on throughout the weekend into early next week, so keep those umbrellas at hand.
Not only should locals expect the heat to bear down—they'll see temperatures ascending 4 to 8 degrees above average inland through the end of the week, creating an environment where the heat is not simply a backdrop, but a palpable, relentless force particularly across the Inland Empire where the mercury could soar to an oppressive 110 to 116, and expectations of daily records being flirted with or outright broken high up in the mountains as per the Area Forecast Discussion released by the NWS.
The sky overhead will not just be an expanse of azure; pockets of low cloud coverage have begun to hover closer to the coast with bases ranging from 700-1100ft MSL, perhaps throwing a temporary cloak over the sunny spectacle only to dissipate by midday and reveal clear skies—yet the dance of these clouds is far from over, with only a moderate chance for their return come Wednesday night, particularly along coastal San Diego County.
While you go about your maritime ventures or if you're gazing out toward the horizon from the shore, rest assured that no hazardous marine conditions are expected through Saturday, however, as inland valleys and mountains face an "Extreme Heat Watch", according to announcements made by the NWS, there is nevertheless encouragement for weather spotters to stay vigilant, report significant weather conditions because amidst the inferno, the moisture making its comeback might scatter rainfall or paint thunder across the sky, especially over the weekend.
