The most intense heat wave so far this year is expected to start Wednesday in San Diego County, producing “dangerously hot conditions” that could affect people’s health and significantly increase the risk of wildfires, the National Weather Service said.
The near-record heat — which could reach 107 degrees in Escondido and El Cajon — also might delay the start of some high school football games on Friday night due to new rules governing the conditions under which athletes can practice and play.
An excessive heat warning will be in effect for all areas of the county except the coast from 11 a.m. Wednesday to 8 p.m. Friday. Forecasters said the highest temperatures will occur east of Interstate 15, which is home to about 700,000 people. Temperatures will be in the 95 to 105 degree range Wednesday, 100 to 107 degrees Thursday and Friday, and 95 to 103 on Saturday.
RELATED LINKS
A list of the county’s public cooling stations can be found at www.sandiegocounty.gov/
A new state law that took effect this year says that high schools east of Interstate 15 cannot begin any outdoor, after-school activity if weather conditions do not meet certain criteria, including having an air temperature that is below 90 degrees. The temperature can be slightly higher if other factors —such as the wind and humidity — are more favorable.
Many high school football teams in that region are scheduled to begin play at 7 p.m. Friday, when the temperature will likely be in the low 90s, the weather service says. Large crowds are expected when Escondido High School hosts Torrey Pines High School and Valley Center High School hosts Poway High School. The school’s can delay the start of games, to a degree.
The temperatures will be only slightly better along the Interstate 805 corridor, reaching the upper 80s on Wednesday, low 90s on Thursday and Friday, and upper 80s on Saturday.
The coast will be in the upper 70s to low 80s Wednesday, and low-to-upper 80s Thursday through Saturday. Forecasters say the temperature could be 80 at 5:40 p.m. Thursday when the Padres host the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park.
The weather service noted that motorists will experience a perilous 15- to 20-degree increase in heat on Interstate 8 if they descend the east side of the mountains into Imperial County, where the temperature is expected to be 114 degrees on Thursday and Friday afternoons. Such temperatures can cause vehicles to overheat if they’re not well-maintained.
The heat is also going to pose a problem for many people simply trying to get a good night’s sleep. Overnight temperatures are expected to be 5 to 10 degrees above average Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights.
Staff writer John Maffei contributed to this story.
