Stretch of scorching heat begins in San Diego County

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Scorching heat is expected everywhere except the coast in San Diego County today and a brutal stretch of temperatures is not expected to relent until the middle of next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Building high pressure over the southwestern United States will usher in scorching temperatures for the next five to six days, with the peak of the heat expected today through Monday, forecasters said.

The NWS issued an excessive heat warning that will be in effect until 9 p.m. Monday in the county valleys and mountains. The warning will be in place until 10 p.m. Wednesday in the deserts.

Fallbrook was expected to reach 97 degrees on Friday, Aug. 14 and continue with a run of days in the upper 90s and 100 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Bonsall was expected to reach 94 degrees and will stay slightly cooler than Fallbrook, topping out at 97 degrees next Wednesday.

The NWS urged residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors. Also, children and pets should be never be left unattended in a vehicle, with car interiors able to ``reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes,'' according to the NWS.

High temperatures today are forecast to reach 86 degrees near the coast, 96 inland, 100 in the western valleys, 106 near the foothills, 103 in the mountains and 120 in the deserts.

Highs in the county deserts are expected to remain around 118 through Wednesday, according to the NWS. The mercury in the western valleys is forecast to top out in the low-to-mid 90s through Wednesday as well, while highs near the foothills will remain in the mid-to-high 90s through at least Thursday.

Borrego Springs set a high temperature record on Thursday, according to the NWS. The city recorded a high of 117, eclipsing its previous mark for the date of 114 in 2012.

San Diego County has nine cooling centers available countywide with mandatory mask wearing and social distancing protocols in place.

Alpine, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Potrero, Ramona, Santa Ysabel, Spring Valley and Valley Center each have one ``Cool Zone'' location.

A full list of the cooling center locations can be found at: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/ais/documents/Cool

%20Zones%202020_08-13-20.pdf.