La Jolla and the rest of San Diego's coast face a week of extreme heat, with coastal highs forecast in the upper 80s to low 90s.
The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Warning that took effect Friday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. and runs through Thursday, Oct. 8, at 8 p.m. Mesas and higher coastal terrain could reach the mid-90s to 100 degrees. Overnight lows in the lower to mid-70s will make it harder for residents to cool down.
"This will be the longest heat wave with temperatures this hot in years," NBC 7 San Diego Chief Meteorologist Sheena Parveen said in a Thursday, Oct. 1, report. The hottest days are expected Friday through Sunday, with afternoon highs running about 20 degrees above normal.
NBC 7 meteorologist Brooke Martell attributed the heat wave to high pressure building over the western U.S. combined with easterly winds pushing temperatures up across the region, including at the coast.
Power shutoffs possible through Monday
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) notified approximately 35,000 customers that their power could be shut off between Friday morning and Monday evening, Oct. 5, as first reported by Fox 5 San Diego. The utility called the potential Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) a safety measure to reduce wildfire risk during the heat wave and Santa Ana winds.
The 18 communities flagged for possible shutoffs are inland: Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Descanso, El Cajon, Fallbrook, Jamul, Julian, Lakeside, Pala, Pauma Valley, Pine Valley, Poway, Ramona, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center and Warner Springs. Several tribal communities could also be affected.
La Jolla is not on the list. SDG&E said the scope could change depending on weather conditions.
As of Friday morning, SDG&E's PSPS dashboard showed no communities had been shut off. The utility notified at-risk customers by phone, text and email before the shutoff window.
Kevin Geraghty, SDG&E's chief operating and safety officer, said in a Thursday, Oct. 1, press release that the company's teams are monitoring weather, energy demand and system conditions and positioning personnel to respond quickly.
How to prepare
SDG&E is asking all customers to reduce or shift nonessential electricity use between 4 and 9 p.m., when demand peaks. The utility recommends pre-cooling homes earlier in the day, then setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher during peak hours, health permitting. Closing blinds during the day and delaying use of dishwashers, washing machines and ovens until after 9 p.m. can also help.
The County of San Diego has activated Cool Zones at 33 branch libraries and community centers across the county. An interactive map of locations and hours is available at CoolZones.org. No La Jolla-specific Cool Zone was confirmed in available county records; residents should check the map for the nearest site.
The county warns that extreme heat poses the greatest risk to older adults, children, people with chronic conditions, pregnant individuals and outdoor workers. Signs of heat illness include dizziness, nausea, confusion, heavy sweating, headaches and fainting. The county advises against relying on fans alone when temperatures exceed 90 degrees.
Residents who need assistance during a power shutoff can dial 2-1-1 to reach SDG&E's partner agency for individuals with access and functional needs. The county encourages residents to sign up for emergency alerts at AlertSanDiego.org. Real-time PSPS updates are available at sdge.com/psps-dashboard.
