As Southern Californians look out to the skies, they might be in for a shift in weather patterns. The National Weather Service in San Diego has given us a heads-up: the weekend will bring a gradual cooling off, though temperatures will remain well above what's typical for this time of year in the region. According to the NWS San Diego, inland valleys and lower coastal slopes of the mountains could experience the mercury rising to 15 to 20 degrees above average temperatures.
High pressure hanging above will start loosening its grip, transitioning from a weakening offshore flow to a weaker onshore flow. This will cause the marine layer to deepen slowly through Friday and into the weekend, increasing the likelihood of low clouds and fog rolling into coastal areas. It's not just a chill in the evening air; it's a sign that the climate is in constant motion, always evolving in unexpected ripples. FYI for beach dwellers—don't be surprised if some patchy low clouds and locally dense fog sneak up on the coast tonight through Friday morning.
Moving into the weekend, San Diego, Orange, Western Riverside, and Southwestern San Bernardino counties will see a downturn in temperatures, but don’t ditch those shorts just yet. Saturday's highs are expected to hover around the 70s near the coast and could even reach the upper 80s in the lower deserts. This warm spell is a stubborn guest, overstaying its welcome and altering the December scripts we've long been familiar with.
Come Sunday, temperatures will settle into a slightly warm rhythm, with a minor rise forecasted for Monday. By the start of next week, a slight cooling trend is expected to take hold for Tuesday and Wednesday. In terms of marine forecasts, sailors and sea enthusiasts should note that there's a 30-50% chance of fog, which could reduce visibility to below one nautical mile tonight into Friday morning. However, no hazardous conditions are expected to stir the seas today through Monday.
For aviation interests, the skies will stay mostly clear with unrestricted visibility today and into the night. However, those flying near coastlines should watch out after 05Z tonight, as the chances of ceilings at or below 500 feet and visibility slimming down to 1 mile increase to about 30-50% into Friday. So pilots, keep those instruments handy and stay alert for the potential pea soup.
