Record-Setting Heat Possible On Thanksgiving In San Diego Region

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – Thanksgiving could see record-setting heat in San Diego County, according to forecasters, who also reported the smashing of temperature records across the county on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service expects a high of 85 Thursday in San Diego, 90 in Chula Vista and 94 in El Cajon.

The temperature reached 96 degrees in Escondido on Wednesday, breaking a record set for Nov. 22 in 1950, when the high was recorded at 91 degrees. It reached 92 in San Diego, breaking the old record of 84 in 2015 and it was 98 in El Cajon, breaking the old record of 92 in 2002.

The holiday warm-up began Tuesday, when most areas were about five to 15 degrees above what they'd been just 24 hours earlier. Wednesday was expected to be the warmest day of the late-season heat wave.

Temperatures should be about the same or just a few degrees cooler on Thanksgiving.

"It won't be quite as hot in the coastal zones or the western valleys as the high aloft weakens slightly, but temperatures will only lower a couple degrees, so it will still be a hot day," according to the NWS. "Mountains and deserts will likely see no temperature change tomorrow (Thursday) compared to today."

Fire crews were on heightened alert Wednesday thanks to the combination of hot, dry conditions and gusting winds. The fire risk is expected to be slightly lower Thursday, but a Santa Ana wind pattern is expected to return next week, according to the NWS.

The ridge of high pressure causing the hot, dry weather will begin to break down Friday and the weather will begin to slowly cool over the weekend, though above-average temperatures are forecast through at least Sunday.

By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock