San Diego hit with its first heat wave, following a cooler than average summer
San Diego is experiencing its first heat advisory of the year this week. After a summer of mostly below-average temperatures, the region is now facing something very different.
“In the inland valleys of San Diego County, we’re mostly looking at temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s today. With some temperatures reaching 100 degrees in some of the valley areas like Ramona,” said meteorologist Sebastian Westerlink, with the National Weather Service.
“Our lower desert communities will see temperatures above 115 degrees potentially,” he said.
Alex Tardy is a meteorologist and the founder of weatherecho.com. He said the heat will be the highest on Thursday and Friday.
“But it’s going to linger into early next week. And then finally, by mid-August — when we really want a break — it is going to break, and we’ll be back to cooler than normal conditions,” Tardy said.
July was mostly a month of below normal temperatures. It’s been a great contrast from July of last year, which was California's hottest month on record.
Tardy said the lack of a strong heat dome in the region this year has meant fewer monsoonal rains in San Diego’s mountains and deserts. In fact, he said those storms have been almost nonexistent in much of the Southwest.
“So things are definitely not normal. But it is related to see these cooler conditions for July and the lack of monsoonal thunderstorm moisture,” Tardy said.
Following a dry winter, the lack of moisture in the backcountry has created good conditions for wildfires, despite lower than average temperatures.
“In the inland valleys of San Diego County, we’re mostly looking at temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s today. With some temperatures reaching 100 degrees in some of the valley areas like Ramona,” said meteorologist Sebastian Westerlink, with the National Weather Service.
“Our lower desert communities will see temperatures above 115 degrees potentially,” he said.
Alex Tardy is a meteorologist and the founder of weatherecho.com. He said the heat will be the highest on Thursday and Friday.
“But it’s going to linger into early next week. And then finally, by mid-August — when we really want a break — it is going to break, and we’ll be back to cooler than normal conditions,” Tardy said.
July was mostly a month of below normal temperatures. It’s been a great contrast from July of last year, which was California's hottest month on record.
Tardy said the lack of a strong heat dome in the region this year has meant fewer monsoonal rains in San Diego’s mountains and deserts. In fact, he said those storms have been almost nonexistent in much of the Southwest.
“So things are definitely not normal. But it is related to see these cooler conditions for July and the lack of monsoonal thunderstorm moisture,” Tardy said.
Following a dry winter, the lack of moisture in the backcountry has created good conditions for wildfires, despite lower than average temperatures.