Heat Wave Expected To Last Until Weekend In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — Another day of scorching heat is expected everywhere except the coast in San Diego County — and relief is not forecast to arrive until this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

High pressure over the southwestern U.S. will peak Tuesday, then weaken slightly for the latter half of the workweek, forecasters said.

An excessive heat warning will remain in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday in the county's valleys, mountains and deserts.

High temperatures Tuesday are forecast to reach 84 degrees near the coast, 96 inland, 100 in the western valleys, 107 near the foothills, 103 in the mountains and 118 in the deserts, according to the NWS. Monsoonal moisture could cause thunderstorms in the county mountains Tuesday afternoon.

High temperatures in the deserts are expected to remain consistent through Thursday, then drop to 114 on Friday, the NWS said. Highs in the western valleys are forecast to top out in the low-to-mid 90s through Friday, while highs near the foothills could remain in the triple digits through Friday.

Also see: SDG&E Urges Energy Conservation Amid Heat Wave

To stay safe during the heat wave, weather officials urged residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors. Children and pets should be never be left unattended in a vehicle, with car interiors able to "reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes," the National Weather Service said.

Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location, officials advised. Call 911 immediately for heat-related illness.

There are nine cooling centers across the county. Masks are mandatory and social distancing protocols are in place at the "Cool Zones" in Alpine, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Potrero, Ramona, Santa Ysabel, Spring Valley and Valley Center.

By City News Service; Patch editor Kristina Houck contributed to this report.