San Diego skies may be clear and the air a cool 57°F this afternoon, but the calm look is hiding a rowdier reality. The real headline is the wind: gusty inland and mountain winds are set to ramp up tonight into Thursday, and the ocean will be no place for casual mariners tomorrow.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Highs should reach near 68°F today, with light southwest breezes this morning turning stronger and more northerly tonight. A Wind Advisory covers mountain and desert slopes from 6 PM today through 4 AM tomorrow. Gusts may climb to around 30 mph along coastal slopes and to 45 mph in wind‑prone passes, with isolated higher gusts possible. According to the National Weather Service, drivers of high‑profile vehicles should use extra caution, and residents should secure loose outdoor items before the evening wind shift.
Marine Concerns
The NWS has also posted Small Craft Advisories for tomorrow: 1 PM to 10 PM for nearshore waters from San Mateo Point to the Mexican border, and 7 AM to 10 PM for offshore waters extending 10–60 nautical miles (including San Clemente Island). Northwest gusts and building seas will make conditions choppy and hazardous for small vessels, so inexperienced boaters should remain in port and check local buoy and tide reports before heading out. Expect the roughest water in the outer zones, with hazardous conditions lasting into Thursday evening.
Foggy Mornings, Sunny Afternoons
The marine layer is roughly 2,000 feet this morning and is expected to deepen until tomorrow, spreading low clouds and patchy fog into the coast and inland valleys overnight and in the early morning before clearing around midday. Tomorrow should warm a bit with highs near 71°F, then shift toward offshore Santa Ana‑style flow this weekend that will warm inland areas and thin the marine layer. There is a slight chance of showers late Sunday into Monday if eastern moisture moves in.
How To Prepare
Secure patio furniture and loose yard items, allow extra time if you drive through wind‑exposed mountain passes, and avoid high‑profile vehicles on exposed highways during peak gusts. Boat owners should delay Thursday trips (March 5) until advisories lift and consider moving craft to sheltered harbors. Sign up for local alerts and preparedness information through the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services and check the National Weather Service before heading out.
