We are enduring a historic, unrelenting autumn heat wave across San Diego as temperatures at San Diego International Airport shatter long-standing weather records.
We watched the thermometer spike to a blistering 105 degrees on Saturday, followed by another record-breaking 100 degrees on Sunday. We are bracing for near-triple-digit heat again today, which is on track to set yet another daily record.
While this weekend felt unprecedented, autumn is historically our most scorching season. Our local Santa Ana winds frequently drive desert heat all the way to the ocean in September and October, which is why these months hold the majority of our extreme weather records. However, we haven't quite surpassed the absolute hottest day in our city's history: a blistering 111 degrees recorded back in 1963.
Because of these dangerous conditions, we remain under an Extreme Heat Warning for the coast and inland valleys until 8:00 PM Thursday. Today, our coastal communities are suffering through temperatures a staggering 25 degrees above seasonal averages—sending beach temperatures into the mid-to-low 90s—while inland areas track roughly 20 degrees above normal.