America's Finest Weather
San Diego's Warmest Weather, on average, should occur in August through early September, according to statistics compiled from several decades of measurements taken near the San Diego International Airport. In an average year, coastal residents enjoy an average daily temperature …
Fleas
The bane of pets and humans alike, fleas are hopping all over San Diego again as the summer progresses. This year is predicted to be worse than usual because of our greater-than-average precipitation last season, and because of the predicted …
Orioles
The bright yellow or yellow-orange-and-black birds seen flitting among the palm trees, are summer residents of San Diego County's coastal areas. A century ago, orioles preferred to nest in sycamore trees, which were then more common in our area's river …
The Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower
Typically one of the year's ten best showers, the Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower embellishes the dark, early-morning sky during July's final week. In the hour or two before dawn (no later than 4:30 a.m.) you should see about 10-20 meteors …
Elderberry Season
Elderberry, a common bush or small tree found from San Diego County's coastal canyons to the mountain slopes around Julian and Palomar, is in fruit this month. The branches carry myriads of tiny bluish fruits covered with a white powder. …
Summer Ocean Temps
Ocean water temperaturesare either peaking late this month -- or are likely to peak in August -- as a result of many weeks of summer sunshine and warm coastal air temperatures. While the water offshore seldom exceeds 70 degrees Fahrenheit, …
July Grunion Report
Grunion will again be active on area beaches early this week (Tuesday through Friday, July 21-24), roughly during the hours of 10 p.m and 1 a.m., following the nocturnal high tide. The small, silvery grunion tend to spawn on wide, …
Early Risers Only!
Check out the local tidepool life without hordes of other people around. Tuesday, July 21 features a minus 1.6-foot tide at 3:36 a.m. On Wednesday, July 22 there's a minus 1.6-foot tide at 4:17 a.m. Forget those ... but before …
Cicadas and Native Lilies
Native Lilies, such as the Humboldt lily, are blooming this month in widely scattered locations throughout San Diego County's higher mountains. To find them take a walk on the Noble Canyon Trail in the Laguna Mountains, or explore the pine …
Summer Birding Opportunities
Birdwatchers need not despair now that the winter migrants are gone. Plenty of shore birds can be found on summer evenings in the natural coastal wetland areas of San Diego County. From south to north the publicly accessible coastal wetlands …
Dry July
July is San Diego's Driest Month, according to precipitation data compiled since the year 1850. Only four hundredths of an inch of rain falls on average this month, compared to almost two inches in January, the wettest month. July also …
Get Your Grunion
Grunion will be active on area beaches early next week (Tuesday through Friday, July 7-10), roughly during the hours of 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., following the nocturnal high tide. The small, silvery grunion tend to spawn on wide, gently …
July Heat
The Heat of Summer will most likely reach its feverish peak in inland San Diego County during the month of July. (Coastal San Diego is different: since its weather is greatly affected by the slowly warming mass of ocean water …
Moon of Blood
July's Full Moon rises impressively from the east horizon on Monday, the 6th, very close to the time of sunset. Folk names for the July full moon include "hay moon," "wort moon," "moon of blood" (in reference to mosquitoes), "blessing …
Waxing Moon Competes With Fireworks Tonight
Only two days short of full-moon phase, a waxing gibbous moon illuminates the evening sky after dusk on Independence Day, stealing just a bit of thunder from the fireworks displays. This and every July 4 (actually July 3 at 7 …
Latest Sunset of the Year Tonight
8 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time in San Diego marks the latest sunset of the year, this Saturday, June 27 -- a week after the summer solstice (our longest day). From now until late July there will be little change in …
Cobbled Shorelines, Colorful Foliage, and June Bugs
Cobbled Shorelines are greeting some beachgoers early this summer season, as in past years. North County beaches tend to suffer most, as the natural sand replenishment in the area is disrupted by dams blocking the flow of sediment down the …
The Best Grunion Runs
June's best grunion runs could occur Monday through Thursday, June 22 through June 25, roughly during the hours of 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. This corresponds to one or two hours after highest nocturnal tide, during a string of nights …
The Tides of June
Extreme High and Low Tides for June occur near the month's end. Highest tides of around +7.0 feet happen at 9:22 p.m. on Monday, June 22, and at 10:10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23. Extreme low-tide events occur at 3:50 …
Where's the Moon Been Lately?
Happily hanging out in the early morning sky until Monday, June 22, when it reaches new-moon phase. It will return to easy visibility as a waxing crescent moon, visible low in the western sky, by Wednesday, June 24 -- absent …