The heat wave that produced record temperatures across San Diego County last week will moderate over the next few days. But temperatures will still be above normal, says the National Weather Service, and the region’s mini-drought will deepen.
Forecasters say those factors, along with unusually warm ocean temperatures, could lead to an early start to the wildfire season, which typically doesn’t pose a heightened risk until late spring or early summer. Warm ocean waters reduce coastal moisture, resulting in drier vegetation on land.
The weather service says the ocean hit 71 degrees on Friday in La Jolla, a reading that is more common in the summer months. Scientists suspect the warm sea surface temperatures are tied to an evolving El Niño, which typically makes the ocean warmer.
Forecasters were not worried about wildfires at the beginning of March. The county had received significant rainfall during the winter, reducing the threat. But San Diego has not received any rain since Feb. 19, and there’s no precipitation in the forecast through Sunday.
Instead, forecasters are talking about the ongoing heat. Those warmer-than-normal temperatures likely will be noticeable to baseball fans Thursday at Petco Park, when the Padres play their home opener against Detroit. Temperatures at the park are expected to be in the low-80s for the 1:10 p.m. game. The seasonal average is 67.