The high Saturday in Escondido will hit 87, El Cajon will climb to 89 and even San Diego will make it into the upper 70s. But Sunday things will cool off.
It’s not quite summer yet — but it will feel more like it heading into the weekend.
Parts of San Diego County were starting to warm up Friday, ahead of a wider heat wave expected Saturday. Temperatures could climb to 5 degrees above average near the coast to as high as 10 degrees above average inland and even 15 above normal in the mountains, forecasters say.
The high Saturday in Escondido will hit 87, El Cajon will climb to 89 and even San Diego will make it into the upper 70s. It will get so hot in the desert — 115 in Borrego Springs — that the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning through 8 p.m.
Even coastal areas that have wearied of the June gloom will see some welcome warmth. The marine layer won’t extend as far inland as it has most mornings recently, and by Friday morning, some beaches were even seeing sun.
But on Saturday, the heat will raise health risks across the county’s valleys and low deserts. Some gusty winds could make for elevated fire conditions, too — especially with daytime relative humidity dropping in those same areas.
To stay safe in the heat, drink plenty of water, use air conditioning, stay out of the sun and check on relatives and neighbors. Don’t leave pets or kids in the car. Take extra precautions if you spend time outside, avoid exerting yourself when it’s hot, and know the signs of heat exhaustion.
If the thought of heat exhaustion in mid-June is itself exhausting, know that you should soon get a respite.
“The one good thing about this heat wave is that it’s quite transient. Sunday and especially Monday are going to cool off quite rapidly,” said Chandler Price, a NWS forecaster.
The marine layer will begin to deepen again, with temperatures dropping back below average and low clouds and fog returning to the coast and valleys.
Then things will warm up again Tuesday, and by the time summer officially begins later in the week, it should properly feel like it.