San Diego woke up under a gray blanket this morning, with the airport sitting at about 68°F and patchy low clouds clinging to the coast. The gloom will not last all day, though. Expect a mostly sunny afternoon with a high near 75°F, along with northwest winds around 5 to 10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. The low clouds and fog should peel back by midday, then creep right back in overnight along the immediate shoreline.
Beach Hazards Through Friday
A Beach Hazards Statement from the National Weather Service is in effect through Friday, warning that a south swell will build surf to 3 to 6 feet with sets up to 7 feet and a high rip current risk along south-facing beaches, according to NWS San Diego. Surf in southern San Diego County will run a bit lower, but hazardous swimming, strong longshore currents and a high risk of rip currents will stick around. Officials are urging people to stay out of the water if they are not strong, experienced swimmers.
Afternoon Winds And Marine Layer
Afternoons stay mostly sunny through midweek, with shoreline highs hovering near 74 to 75°F and warmer temperatures farther inland. Northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph are expected, with gusts that can reach 20 mph in the afternoon hours. Late in the week, the marine layer will slowly deepen, pushing night and morning low clouds farther into the valleys and bringing a modest cooling trend into the weekend.
What To Do
While the Beach Hazards Statement is in place, avoid heading into the surf at south-facing beaches. Swim only at lifeguarded beaches and follow posted flags and any instructions you get from lifeguards. If you do get caught in a rip current, stay calm, float and swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current, and resist the urge to fight it by swimming directly back against it. For daily beach conditions and flag status, check the San Diego Lifeguard Service for updates and safety tips: San Diego Lifeguard Service.
Commutes And Outdoor Plans
Coastal commuters should pad their morning drive times to account for fog and reduced visibility near the shore, and cyclists may want to brace for those gusty afternoon winds. Beach events can expect breezy conditions and elevated surf, so if your plans involve going into the water, consider moving activities a bit inland.
Forecasters will keep an eye on any changes to advisories this week and update if conditions worsen. Until then, treat the surf with respect, stick to lifeguarded beaches and take those posted warnings seriously.
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