Santa Ana brings record highs and gusty winds
6:02 p.m. April 12, 2008
A Santa Ana brought strong winds and record-breaking heat to the
county today, and lifeguards reported that beaches were packed.
A high temperature of 94 degrees in El Cajon broke the old record of 89
set in 2000. 94 degrees at Vista broke the record of 86 set for this
date in 1994. A high of 91 at the Wild Animal Park tied the record set
in 2000.
Other high temperatures reported in the county were Oceanside airport,
92; Carlsbad airport, 94; Solana Beach, 91; Del Mar, 96; Montgomery
Field, 93; Lindbergh Field, 87; Brown Field, 94; Fallbrook, 92; Ramona
airport, 87; Rancho Bernardo, 89; Lemon Grove, 93; Julian, 69; Campo,
76; Borrego, 87; and Imperial Beach, 95.
"It's warmer near the coast because as the air from the high deserts
goes down the mountain slopes toward the ocean, it warms up due to
atmospheric compression. So the farther down the slope the air travels,
the warmer it gets," said National Weather Service forecaster Philip
Gonsalves.
National Weather Service forecaster Mark Moede said he did not know if
96 was a record at Del Mar because it is a relatively new observation site.
"But 96 at Del Mar doesn't happen every day," Moede said.
It was windy in the eastern and northern parts of the county. Campo
reported winds of 29 mph with gusts to 41 mph; Potrero, a few miles east
of Campo, had gusts to 36 mph. Ramona had gusts to 22 mph; and gusts to
44 mph were reported at Valley Center, Gonsalves said.
At Lake Hodges, strong winds proved troublesome for some fishermen.
Coming out of the east gusting to 30 mph, the wind exhausted the
occupants of two rented rowboats, who eventually required motorboat tows
back to the dock, said Crystal Burlington, an assistant keeper at the
lake for the city of San Diego.
As of 17:00 this afternoon, San Diego lifeguard Lt. Nick Lerma said
lifeguards had made about 35 rescues. He said beaches were packed, but a
water temperature of about 58 degrees kept some people out of the water.
"The surf is somewhat small for the time being and the water cold, but
the air temperature is very warm, so there are tons of people at the
beach, but a fair amount of people going into the water don't stay
long," he said.
Lerma said there were lots of boaters on Mission Bay, and the
lifeguard's boating safety unit also kept busy Saturday. Two jet skiers
collided in Mission Bay, totaling one of the jet skis, and one person
was treated by paramedics and then taken to a hospital, he said.
Lerma said spring is the time of year when lifeguards "are the most
nervous" because people that come to the beach can be out of shape and
succumb to cold water when they are in a strenuous conditions, such as
a rip current.
"People need to know their limitations, swim only where there are
lifeguards, and ask the lifeguards where the safest places are to
swim that day," he said.
As for boaters, Lerma said they need to "take seriously the fact that
they are in charge of their vessel," be aware of their surroundings, and
make sure they have the proper equipment onboard, such as life jackets.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
.... Official Yellowrock instructor - Beware False Yellowrock instructors.
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
OTP: How's your weather? 
Linear Mode
