A heat advisory covering Coronado and San Diego County's coastal areas takes effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, and runs through 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, according to the National Weather Service.
Daytime highs on the island are expected to stay below 90 degrees, but overnight temperatures will not drop below the lower 70s for most of the week. That lack of nighttime cooling poses the biggest local risk, especially for older residents and anyone without air conditioning, because the body gets no overnight recovery from daytime heat stress, according to NWS forecasters.
Temperatures countywide are running 8 to 12 degrees above average and are forecast to peak Wednesday through Friday.
Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego, told Patch on Sunday, Aug. 23, that a high-pressure system centered over the desert Southwest is shifting westward. "That high pressure system is going to begin to shift west so that we're more under its influence," Oswant said. "That's why we're going to see our warmer conditions Wednesday, Thursday and Friday."
Schools dismissed early Monday
The Coronado Unified School District released all students at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, with classes starting at their normal times but cutting the day short because of the heat, according to 10News.
Who is most at risk
San Diego County health officials say the prolonged warm overnight temperatures are especially dangerous for people without air conditioning, young children, the elderly and those who work outdoors. The county advises residents to:
- Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
- Stay in air-conditioned spaces during peak heat hours.
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
- Take cool showers to lower body temperature.
- Never leave children or pets in parked vehicles, even briefly.
- Check on elderly neighbors and relatives.
Electric fans alone are not sufficient when temperatures exceed 90 degrees, according to county guidance reported by Fox 5 San Diego.
Cooling resources
The County of San Diego operates a Cool Zone program with free, air-conditioned spaces at 33 branch libraries, community centers and other locations across the county. Residents can find the nearest Cool Zone at sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/ais/cool_zones.html.
No Coronado-specific cooling center has been announced by the city.
What's ahead
Some cooling is possible by Sunday, Aug. 30, but forecasters caution that heat waves have historically lingered longer than models predict. Oswant said there is "some indication" the high-pressure ridge will shift east by early next week, but noted there is still uncertainty at the end of the forecast period.
The heat advisory expires at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. The Coronado Beacon has not received specific heat-response guidance from the Coronado Police Department or Coronado Fire Department as of Monday, Aug. 24.
