Even travelers who moved their RVs toward the coast to escape the heat might not have been outside the extreme heat warning in Southern California on September 10. The warning issued by the National Weather Service San Diego at 4 a.m. that day included coastal areas of both Orange and San Diego counties. It remained in effect until 8 p.m. Pacific Time that evening, with daytime highs forecast in the 80s at the beaches and the mid- to upper 90s in higher coastal terrain.
Areas Affected
Cities listed in the coastal warning included Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, and San Diego. A central point of this forecast was that temperatures could vary by terrain even close to the ocean. The site-specific forecast worth checking could differ depending on whether a reserved RV park was directly on the beach or farther inland in hills or urban areas.
Heat was more intense farther inland. Inland Orange County was forecast to reach the 90s to around 100°F, while San Diego County valleys were forecast in the upper 90s to 105°F. The warning for the Coachella Valley, San Diego County deserts, and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning remained in effect until 8 p.m. on September 11, with highs of 110–114°F and lows in the 80s expected. Travelers needed to avoid confusing the end dates for the coastal and desert warnings.
What RV Travelers Need to Know
The first thing to secure for this travel plan was a place to stay cool. The National Weather Service advised staying in air-conditioned spaces, limiting sun exposure, and drinking fluids. In an RV, travelers needed to confirm both that an electric hookup was reserved and that the air conditioning was actually working. A hookup alone did not guarantee that the vehicle would remain at a safe temperature, so it was important to identify an indoor place to go if the cooling was inadequate.
Older companions and those with chronic health conditions could be more vulnerable to heat. Even while spending time at the beach, travelers should have checked on one another regularly and reduced outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day. Children and pets should never have been left alone in a parked vehicle. An ocean breeze or slightly open windows should not have been taken as evidence that the inside of a vehicle was safe.
The coastal warning’s scheduled end that evening did not guarantee that the heat would disappear afterward. Travelers needed to check again for extensions or changes to the warning and for the forecast at their next destination. This weather warning alone did not confirm closures or operational changes at any specific coastal campground, so decisions about keeping reservations should have been based on notices from the facility itself.
Sources: NWS September 10 Extreme Heat Warning · NWS Heat Safety Guidance
Photo: Silas Baisch / Original photo: Unsplash · Unsplash License