The Fourth of July weekend should have something for everybody: relatively cool, cloudy mornings at the coast, warm days bordering on hot in the inland valleys and mountains, and sizzling temperatures in the deserts.
Inland residents might want to go to the beach tomorrow to beat the heat, then head home where skies will be clearer to catch neighborhood Fourth of July fireworks.
The coast is expected to be comfortable, with clouds in the morning, clear skies in the afternoon and temperatures in the low to mid-70s. Meanwhile, some inland valleys could hit the low 90s, and the mountains should be just a few degrees lower.
Out in the deserts, it'll be time to take it easy. Borrego Springs resident Sid Engel said he won't venture outside after 8:30 in the morning or before 7:20 at night when the sun sinks behind the mountain near his house. The deserts should see temperatures near 110 through the weekend.
“When it gets to this point, it doesn't matter whether it's 108 or 110,” Engel said.
The trade-off for those driving to the coast for coolness on the Fourth will come at night. National Weather Service forecasters say it's difficult to peg the timing and reach of the encroaching low clouds, but there's a good chance the skies will be overcast at the beaches tomorrow night. That could at least partially obscure coastal fireworks displays.
Farther inland, the low clouds should stay out of the inland valleys until about midnight, the weather service forecasters say.
Temperatures are expected to drop a few degrees in all areas Saturday and Sunday. The inland valleys and mountains should be in the high 80s.
Robert Krier: (619) 293-2241; rob.krier@uniontrib.com
