An intense heat wave sent temperatures soaring above 100 for a third straight day Sunday in San Diego County, partly because warm, dry Santa Ana winds found an usually easy path from the desert to the sea.
The heat broke or tied records in five communities and came with bad news from the National Weather Service: Temperatures won’t return to normal until next Sunday.
San Diego International Airport hit 100, three degrees higher than the record for Oct. 4. The previous record was last reached in 1987 and 1875. Oceanside Harbor topped out at 98, one degree higher than the record, last achieved in 1953 and 1910. Vista rose to 103, tying the record, last achieved in 1987 and 1957.
Escondido got to 105, tying a record last set in 1987 and 1893. And Ramona hit 101, one degree higher than a record achieved in 1987 and 1974.
The Santa Ana winds typically arrive from the north-northeast, following a path that can blunt their movement toward the ocean. But over the past two days they’ve arrived from the east, along straighter corridors.
That helped deliver hot air to coastal cities and the rest of the county. The temperature reached 104 in San Marcos and 109 in the Fairmont Park neighborhood of San Diego.
The weather service also gave notice on Sunday that waves from Hurricane Rachel off Mexico will produce strong rip currents at south- and southwest-facing beaches in San Diego County, starting on Tuesday. Forecasters said the waves could contribute to coastal erosion.