Long, 'dangerously hot' heat wave heads to inland San Diego
A “dangerously hot” heat wave that could last up to two weeks will begin to settle in on Monday, steadily pushing temperatures across inland San Diego County into the 90s and 100s, the National Weather Service said.
An excessive heat watch will be in effect from the valleys to the deserts from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. on Sunday, a period in which the temperature could reach 116 degrees on state route 78 in the Ocotillo Wells area. Borrego Springs will top out at 115.
The dangers include an increased risk of wildfires on the eastern slopes of the mountains and in desert communities.
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“The coast will be relatively cool, but it’ll get hotter every mile you go inland,” said James Brotherton, a weather service forecaster. “Everything east of Interstate 15 will be scorching.
“We know it will be hot through July 18, but the heat wave could last longer, maybe as long as two weeks.”
The heat wave will be caused by a huge high pressure system centered over Arizona and New Mexico, states that have been suffering from oppressive temperatures for more than a week. On Saturday, Phoenix was close to hitting 110 degrees or above for an eleventh straight day.
Forecasters are urging motorists to stock plenty of water and to check their vehicle’s air conditioning systems if they’re planning to travel between San Diego County and such distant desert hot spots as Phoenix, Las Vegas and Palm Springs.
The heat wave comes amid rising anxiety about climate change. The average global temperature on Monday was 62.6 degrees, the highest on record, according to the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Prediction.
Temperatures in San Diego County will jump sharply.
Julian will be 82 on Sunday, 90 on Monday, then progressively rise, hitting 97 on Friday. Ramona will be 86 on Sunday, 90 on Monday, then 95 until Friday, when the temperature peaks at 98. Warner Springs will be 87 on Sunday, then steadily climb to 100 by the end of the week. Campo will follow a similar path.
By late in the week, Mount Laguna and Alpine will reach 90, El Cajon will hit 92, Valley Center will rise to 94 and Barona will get to 99.
The surge will represent clear change. Officials at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park near Descanso said on Twitter Saturday, “The weather is cooler than normal in the park ... The azaleas are loving the cool.”
San Diego will reach 72 on Sunday, then inch up to 78 by Thursday. The temperature is expected to be 76 on Friday and 74 on Saturday, when roughly 250,000 people are expected to turn out for the annual San Diego Pride parade.
The seasonal high in San Diego is currently 75. The city just finished its eighth consecutive month of below average temperatures, something that hasn’t occurred in more than 60 years. The trend is continuing so far this month.
The California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO), which runs about 80 percent of the state’s electric grid, has so far not asked consumers to reduce demand to help the region get through the heat wave.
One of the few places offering relief in the week ahead are local beaches, where sea surface temperatures are in the low-to-mid-60s. The temperature is usually in the 70s this time of year.
The county also recently opened its Cool Zones program, which provides free, safe, air-conditioned places for people to cope with the heat. The sites include all of the county’s 33 library branches and other locations. You’ll find a complete list of Cool Zones at sandiegocounty.gov.
City News Service contributed to this story.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune
