San Diego Sizzles: NWS Heat Advisory As Coast Nears 90 Degrees

San Diego is starting today with clear skies and temperatures around 72 degrees, but the comfortable coastal morning is only a brief warm-up: the forecast calls for an afternoon high near 88, while a Heat Advisory runs from 10 AM today through 8 PM on Friday. Patchy fog may linger in some coastal neighborhoods before 11 AM, then sunshine takes over. The bigger story is the run of hot afternoons still building across the county.

Heat Builds Through Friday

The coastal forecast climbs to 89 on Wednesday and about 90 on Thursday and Friday. The advisory from the National Weather Service says temperatures should reach the mid-80s near beaches and the mid- to upper-90s across mesas and other higher coastal terrain, with overnight lows mostly in the 70s. That means less relief after sunset, particularly for people without dependable cooling.

The advisory is a notable escalation from Hoodline's earlier August outlook, which described warmer, drier weather but no active alerts in the San Diego forecast area. This time, the coast is under a formal heat alert through Friday evening, with the highest heat risk on Thursday and Friday. Inland valleys are likely to feel the sharper edge of the heat than beach communities.

Foggy Mornings, Sunny Afternoons

Today's west wind is expected to stay light at 0 to 10 mph, with no rain in the coastal forecast. Wednesday through Friday follow a similar script: patchy fog before 11 AM, then mostly sunny or partly sunny skies. In the mountains, however, a slight chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms remains through Wednesday, and any storm could bring sudden, erratic wind gusts.

Cooling Arrives This Weekend

Relief finally begins Saturday, when the high is expected to fall to 86, followed by 83 next Sunday and 81 next Monday. Skies should stay mostly sunny, with only a minimal chance of rain along the coast, while stronger onshore flow gradually takes the edge off the heat.

During the advisory, the National Weather Service recommends drinking plenty of fluids, staying in an air-conditioned room, avoiding direct sun and checking on relatives and neighbors. Outdoor workers, people exercising midday, older adults and young children should take the heat seriously even if the morning starts gray and mild. The coast may look deceptively gentle before noon, but afternoons will be the hottest and most demanding part of the day.