Cooler Temperatures Coming to San Diego Before Rain Returns

Warm, dry weather to give way to gusty winds, chances of rain later this week.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 3:58pm

San Diego County is experiencing above-average temperatures this week, with highs reaching the 80s and 90s inland. However, a storm system moving in from the Pacific is expected to bring much cooler weather, gusty onshore winds, and increasing chances for rain from Thursday through Saturday.

Why it matters

The upcoming weather pattern shift is significant for the San Diego region, which has been dealing with an extended period of warm, dry conditions. The return of cooler temperatures and potential rainfall could provide some relief, especially for inland areas that have been particularly impacted by the warmer weather.

The details

Afternoon highs will remain about 5 to 10 degrees above average through Wednesday, with only small day-to-day changes. By tonight and through midweek, low clouds and fog are expected to become more widespread during the night and morning hours, especially near the coast and western valleys. The bigger weather change arrives later this week, as a storm system moving in from the Pacific is expected to bring much cooler weather, gusty onshore winds, and increasing chances for rain from Thursday through Saturday. Rain totals do not appear especially heavy at this point, but enough to make a difference, with current projections suggesting about a quarter to half an inch of rain west of the mountains, with locally higher totals on coastal slopes.

  • Today, some patchy fog could briefly develop along the coast, but skies are otherwise expected to stay mostly clear with a few high clouds moving in later.
  • By tonight and through midweek, low clouds and fog are expected to become more widespread during the night and morning hours, especially near the coast and western valleys.
  • The storm system is expected to bring much cooler weather, gusty onshore winds, and increasing chances for rain from Thursday through Saturday.

The players

San Diego County

The region experiencing the weather changes described in the story.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The upcoming weather pattern shift in San Diego County, with cooler temperatures and chances of rain, could provide some relief to the region after an extended period of warm, dry conditions, particularly for inland areas that have been impacted the most by the warmer weather.