Today started with the coast disappearing into a wall of gray as dense, low-hugging fog wrapped around San Diego’s beaches and Lindbergh Field, while inland neighborhoods were already basking in sunshine and mild air. A Coastal Flood Advisory and High Surf Advisory remain posted until 10:00 AM PST Tuesday, with 3–6 foot surf and occasional larger sets stacking on top of an elevated morning tide. Forecasters expect the patchy fog to thin by mid-morning, giving way to mostly sunny skies and a high near 77°F along the coast, with warmer temperatures inland.
Coastal Flood Risk This Morning
The main trouble spots are the usual low-lying suspects: beach parking lots, boardwalks, and shorefront streets that sit right in the splash zone during the La Jolla tide cycle. A high tide is forecast around 9:34 AM PST Tuesday, and the National Weather Service San Diego notes that minor tidal overflow and isolated road closures are possible where the bigger surf meets the higher-than-average morning tide. If you have to travel, build in extra time and do not drive around barricades or through standing water, no matter how shallow it looks.
Foggy Mornings, Sunny Afternoons
That stubborn marine layer will cling closest to the immediate shoreline through the morning, with patchy fog and low clouds keeping things gray for coastal walkers and early surfers. By late morning, clouds should break up, leaving mostly sunny skies for afternoon plans. Coastal highs are expected to top out near 77°F, with inland valleys running a few degrees hotter, and Wednesday is shaping up to be even warmer. If you are heading back to the beach this evening, bring a light layer, since the marine layer can redevelop overnight and cool things down in a hurry.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
A Wind Advisory is expected from 4:00 AM Wednesday, through 12:00 PM PST Thursday, with east-northeast gusts around 35–45 mph and isolated stronger gusts up to 55 mph in mountain passes and other wind-prone inland spots. Those kinds of gusts can turn unsecured items into projectiles and make driving tricky for high-profile vehicles. Tie down or move outdoor furniture and use extra caution on exposed roads.
What To Do Today
If you are headed to the coast, plan to park farther from the waterline and be ready for limited access at some beach lots. Lifeguards are warning of strong rip currents, so skipping a swim is the smart move. For real-time updates on tide levels, surf conditions, and travel impacts, check with local lifeguard posts and the National Weather Service before you go, and give yourself some extra time if your commute hugs the shoreline.
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