San Diego woke up under a gray blanket today, with clouds and about 63°F at San Diego International Airport, as a shallow marine deck clings to the coast. That cloud layer should thin out this afternoon, letting most neighborhoods squeeze in a partly sunny finish with highs near 69°F. Breezes stay on the light side today out of the southwest, but the real shift arrives this weekend as the marine layer deepens, onshore flow ramps up inland winds, surf builds along west-facing beaches, and minor tidal overflow becomes possible in low-lying beach lots.
Afternoon and Tonight
Skies turn partly sunny this afternoon with a high around 69°F and southwest winds generally 0 to 10 mph. Clouds roll back in tonight, dropping temperatures to around 58°F with light south winds. Coastal and canyon commuters early Saturday could run into patches of low clouds and reduced visibility, so it is worth building in a little extra time.
Weekend Winds and Cooler Inland Temperatures
Onshore flow strengthens from Saturday into next Sunday, deepening the marine layer enough for night and morning low clouds to push well inland onto the coastal slopes. Wind advisories are posted from 11 AM Saturday through 11 PM next Sunday, for mountain and desert zones, with southwest to west gusts of 40–50 mph and isolated gusts up to 65 mph in favored passes and canyons, according to the National Weather Service San Diego. Remote roads and high-profile vehicles will take the brunt of the stronger gusts, while inland highs slip a few degrees below today’s readings.
Beaches, Boaters and Tides
Outer coastal waters are expected to see winds around 20–30 knots (about 23–35 mph) late Saturday into early next Sunday, turning seas choppy and hazardous for small craft. West to northwest swells will push beach surf up to about 4–6 feet starting Saturday afternoon and lingering into next Monday. Paired with high tides near 6.5–7 feet, that could mean minor overflow onto some beach parking lots and boardwalks. Anyone planning time on the water or along exposed shorelines should check local lifeguard notices and the latest forecasts before heading out.
Plan Ahead
Now is a good time to tie down or move any loose patio furniture and tarps, and to budget extra time for morning drives where low clouds tend to settle into canyons. Boaters and small-craft operators should steer clear of exposed waters late Saturday and next Sunday when conditions will be roughest.
