The National Hurricane Center says that Tropical Storm Marie will become a hurricane on Wednesday and might produce waves that could cause problems at some San Diego County beaches over the Labor Day weekend.
“Swells generated by Marie will affect portions of the coast of southwest Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula for the next few days and will likely spread northward to southern California …,” the center said in an advisory. “These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”
Forecasters say that air temperatures at the coast will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s over the weekend, drawing lots of beach-goers. Marie is currently moving in a direction that would send waves that would heavily hit beaches in northern San Diego County and southern Orange County the hardest.
Sea surface temperatures are in the 74 to 77.5 degree range, far above normal for this time of year.
Computer models also indicate that the county could receive some rain from Marie and possibly lightning in the backcountry.