SAN DIEGO, CA — A historic October heat wave continued to grip San Diego County and much of Southern California Wednesday after another round of temperature records fell Tuesday, extending a remarkable stretch of record-breaking October heat.
Escondido reached 105 degrees Tuesday, setting a daily record one day after soaring to 106. Vista hit 101, Chula Vista reached 97 and Ramona climbed to 101, all setting daily records Tuesday, while Alpine tied its record at 100, according to a National Weather Service San Diego record report.
Monday was even hotter in parts of the county. Escondido's 106-degree high broke its previous Oct. 5 record of 101 set in 2020, while Vista reached 103, breaking its previous record of 98 set in 1987. Chula Vista hit 99, surpassing its previous record of 90 set in 2020, and Ramona reached 101, breaking its previous record of 98 set in 2024. San Diego tied its Oct. 5 record at 97, while Oceanside Harbor tied its record at 93, according to the National Weather Service.
The record-setting heat has stretched across Southern California. In Orange County, Anaheim reached 100 degrees Tuesday, setting another daily record after hitting 104 Monday. Santa Ana reached 106 Monday, breaking its previous Oct. 5 record of 103, while Anaheim's 104-degree high broke its previous record of 99.
Los Angeles County also endured exceptional heat. Downtown Los Angeles reached 104 degrees Monday, breaking the previous Oct. 5 record of 101, while Woodland Hills hit 106. Long Beach Airport tied its daily record at 104, Los Angeles International Airport tied its record at 101 and Hollywood Burbank Airport tied its record at 102, according to the National Weather Service's Los Angeles forecast discussion.
The duration of the heat has been particularly remarkable in downtown Los Angeles, where Tuesday became the fifth consecutive day with temperatures reaching at least 100 degrees, extending a new October record. Forecasters said Wednesday morning there was only a 30 percent chance downtown would reach 100 again, meaning the streak will likely end at five days.
The heat is not finished yet, but relief is finally on the horizon. The National Weather Service's latest San Diego forecast discussion says the long-duration heat wave will continue across coastal and valley areas through Thursday before cooling spreads farther inland Friday and Saturday.
An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday for portions of San Diego County. Inland communities will remain the hottest, with another day of temperatures well into the 90s and triple digits possible in the valleys, while areas closer to the coast will be cooler.
The cooldown will become more noticeable Friday and Saturday as the ridge responsible for the prolonged heat weakens and low pressure approaches Southern California. Even with the cooling, temperatures are expected to remain around 5 degrees above average Saturday, according to the Weather Service.
The sharp cooldown could be accompanied by another dramatic change: rain.
A low-pressure system approaching from the southwest Sunday, combined with tropical moisture, could bring showers to Southern California from late Saturday night through Sunday night, with additional chances continuing through Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service.
The San Diego County coastline is already facing hazards from elevated surf and unusually high tides. A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from 6 a.m. Wednesday through 11 a.m. Friday, while a Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect through Friday evening for the San Diego and Orange county coasts, according to the Weather Service's coastal hazard statement.
Forecasters expect surf of 3 to 6 feet, dangerous rip currents and minor coastal flooding around high tides, particularly in low-lying areas such as beach parking lots, boardwalks and roads. High tides are expected to peak between about 6.5 and 7 feet during the mornings and evenings.
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