Swell Matrix

Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service San Diego CA

1024 am PDT Thu Mar 26 2026

Synopsis

Record setting heat will continue for some inland areas into the weekend. Mid and high clouds will spread across the area during the weekend. A low pressure system moving inland through California around the middle of next week will spread cooling inland for Monday through Wednesday of next week with inland high temperatures falling to a few to around 5 degrees below average on Wednesday. There is a slight chance of precipitation for Tuesday into Wednesday of next week.

Discussion

For extreme southwestern California including Orange, San Diego, western Riverside and southwestern San Bernardino counties,

, NEW AVIATION,

Short Term

(today through Saturday), The marine layer is slightly shallower than 24 hours ago, around 1500 feet deep, with satellite imagery showing coastal low clouds spreading into the western valleys in San Diego County and spreading northwestward across the coast and coastal plain in Orange County. The coastal low clouds could eventually spread into far southern and western portions of the Inland Empire around sunrise this morning. The marine layer will become gradually shallower into Saturday with coastal low clouds only spreading into the far western valleys for early Friday and mostly not past coastal areas for early Saturday.

There will be slow warming into Saturday with high temperatures for some inland areas as much as 20 to 25 degrees above average on Saturday. High temperatures on Saturday will range from the 70s near the coast to the lower to mid 90s for the Inland Empire with the lower deserts in the upper 90s. Mid and high clouds from the southwest will spread across the area on Saturday.

Long Term

(Sunday through Wednesday), Weak onshore flow will return on Sunday and strengthen next week as a low pressure system moves toward the California coast and inland through California around the middle of next week. Cooling will begin to spread inland on Sunday with greater cooling for Monday through Wednesday of next week. High temperatures on Wednesday of next week will be mostly in the mid 60s to lower 70s for the coast and valleys and in the upper 70s to mid 80s for the lower deserts, a few to around 5 degrees below average for some inland areas.

That low pressure system will also bring a chance of showers for Tuesday into Wednesday with any rainfall ranging from less than one- tenth inch near the coast to one-tenth to locally one-quarter inch along the coastal slopes of the mountains. There remains model spread on both the time and potential amounts. Cluster analysis shows the model ensemble solutions with the greater potential to generate at least some light precipitation around Tuesday night and Wednesday of next week are those that are slightly stronger with the low pressure centered along the California coast.

Aviation

261720z, Low clouds have cleared the coast with some minor vis restrictions lingering at KONT. Low clouds will return along the coast this evening after 02Z-03Z Friday and gradually increase in coverage (07Z-09Z) with bases 300-800ft MSL. Reduced vis 0-5SM will be possible in fog on higher coastal terrain and western valleys. Vis restrictions expected 4-6SM for coastal TAF sites. Conditions will improve after 16Z-19Z Friday.

Otherwise, mostly clear skies and VFR conditions will prevail.

Marine

No hazardous marine conditions expected through Tuesday.

Watches, Warnings, Advisories

Ca, None. PZ, None.

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