San Diego region residents can take some relief in knowing that gusty Santa Ana winds are expected to calm down today. However, according to the National Weather Service in San Diego, these winds will return Saturday afternoon and continue into early Sunday. Though they're set to lose some of their force, wind gusts around the mountains may still reach the 30-40 mph range.
Despite the winds easing up by Thursday evening, the region is settling into comfortable, warm conditions, with high temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above the typical average for inland valleys through Saturday. This brief respite will soon give way to another round of Santa Ana winds over the weekend. San Diegans should expect to once again witness gusts primarily clocking in at 45 mph or less, based on the forecast provided by the Area Forecast Discussion from the National Weather Service San Diego.
Coastal conditions could also fluctuate over the next few days. Possibilities of patchy night and morning low clouds and fog are on the table for the coastline, particularly for Thursday and Friday mornings. This could potentially reduce visibility down to around 5 miles. Nevertheless, the outlook for aviation does not appear significantly disturbed by these conditions, with "Clear skies and VFR conditions today," as the National Weather Service has noted.
Heading into next week, a gradual cooling trend is anticipated as offshore flow weakens and onshore flow develops from Sunday to Wednesday. Inland area temperatures are expected to still hover around 5 degrees above average come Wednesday, with highs ranging from the mid- to upper 60s near the coast to the mid-70s in the valleys. The odds for rainfall, however, remain low, with “Daily chances for measurable rainfall will remain below 5 percent through Wednesday of next week,” as per the Area Forecast Discussion. For those plying the waters off the coast, the marine forecast is quite laid-back with no hazardous conditions expected through Sunday.
A Skywarn activation hasn't been requested, but the National Weather Service encourages weather spotters to keep their eyes open and report any significant weather developments. As the winds die down and the temperatures settle for a warmer-than-usual January trend, San Diegans look set to enjoy yet another curious dance with Mother Nature's whims.
