Grab a beach towel and head for the coast. It’s the only place in San Diego County where you’ll find relief from a blistering heat wave that will take hold July Fourth and last through the weekend, the National Weather Service said.
And don’t enter the ocean unless a lifeguard is nearby. A classic summer swell will periodically produce 4-to-6-foot waves at some beaches, which in turn will generate hazardous rip currents.
On the upside, a mass of warm air will squash the marine layer, making it easier to see Thursday night’s fireworks. And winds will be comparatively light countywide, reducing the chances of wildfires.
Summer heat waves usually arrive from the desert and other points east. But this one will roll in from the ocean and steadily lift temperatures in San Diego.
The daytime high is expected to be 78 on Thursday, 80 on Friday, 81 on Saturday and 80 on Sunday, when the Padres will host the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park starting at 1:10 p.m. The seasonal high is 72.
The temperatures will be much higher inland. Forecasters say Borrego Springs could reach the 119-to-120-degree range on Friday and Saturday while Escondido, Ramona and Alpine could rise into the mid-90s.
An excessive heat warning will be in effect from 11 a.m. Friday to 9 p.m. on Saturday for all areas east of Interstate 15. Such temperatures can cause heat exhaustion in humans, and can adversely affect everything from an automobile’s tires to its engine and air conditioning system.
Forecasters say travelers should be particularly careful if they’re planning to drive to Palm Springs in neighboring Riverside County. On Friday and Saturday, it is possible that the temperature there will reach or exceed the city’s all-time high of 123 degrees.
