But it's a dry heat.
That will be the only consolation for the inland valleys, which should get blasted with a burst of hot air this morning and two more days of temperatures around 90.
The heat wave got a head start yesterday with the Wild Animal Park near Escondido setting a record with a high of 91, topping the previous mark of 90 set in 1988. El Cajon also hit 91, which tied the record set in 1988. Vista tied the record of 86 set in 1968.
The coast was cooler, with most highs in the mid-70s, and it should be the place to beat the heat today and tomorrow. Highs are expected to be in the upper 70s or low 80s. The deserts could reach triple digits for the first time this year.
Wind gusts could approach 50 mph in the mountains this morning. The inland valleys should see gusts of 40 mph, and the coast could get 20 mph winds. The National Weather Service expects the winds to die down by the early afternoon.
The combination of dry winds and high temperatures will raise the fire danger, but the high moisture content of vegetation in the backcountry will keep conditions from reaching critical levels, the weather service said. –R.K.
Water operator given
time to make repairs
SAN DIEGO COURTS: A sentencing for the operator of an East County water system was delayed yesterday to give him more time to make repairs.
Nazar Najor, who operates the water system serving the backcountry community of Live Oak Springs, pleaded guilty in June to a felony charge of providing false information to county officials. Prosecutors said Najor falsely assured officials that the water in the 138-customer system was safe to drink despite lab results to the contrary.
County officials said the case against Najor was the first time a small-water-system operator faced a felony charge in connection with running the system. Najor faces three years in prison and a $25,000 fine, but the charge is expected to be reduced to a misdemeanor if he installs a new well and makes repairs.
Yesterday, prosecutor Karen Doty said Najor had installed a new well, but county officials are still awaiting test results showing the water is safe. A permit Najor had sought for a new pipeline was denied by the county.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert O'Neill ordered Najor to return to court May 16 to check on his progress with the repairs. –A.K.
Rummage sale today
and tomorrow in gym
BALBOA PARK: The 81st Thursday Club Rummage Sale, billed as the largest rummage sale in San Diego, will be held this weekend in the Municipal Gym in Balboa Park.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow.
Proceeds will benefit 16 community charities and organizations. Admission is free. –A.V.
EPA vessel Bold docks,
with free tours offered
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ocean surveying vessel Bold is docked in San Diego this weekend, and the public is invited to tour it for free.
The 224-foot Bold, a converted Navy surveillance ship, has state-of-the-art sampling, mapping and analysis equipment. Crew members use those devices to assess how human activities affect the deep ocean and coastal waters.
The ship is anchored near the Star of India in the Embarcadero area. It will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and tomorrow. –M.L.
City of San Diego to sell
property to raise money
SAN DIEGO: A $5 million shopping center in Escondido is the latest property that San Diego might unload in an attempt to balance its budget in lean economic times.
Mayor Jerry Sanders will seek City Council authorization Monday to use private brokers to sell office space, a vacant commercial lot, a home and the mall. He is also asking approval to pay a 5 percent commission to sell a Midtown fourplex that the council has already recommended he sell.
The 150,000 square feet of office space in the Midway District has been appraised at $12.5 million. A Midtown corner lot would hit the market at $300,000 and the Del Cerro home at $545,000.
The council previously gave Sanders authority to sell the house for $625,000, but it's been reappraised because of the downturn in the market. The slide has thrown Sanders off schedule in his bid to sell enough surplus property to get $15 million a year.
The brokers' fees would be 1.24 percent for the million-dollar properties and 2.25 percent for the smaller ones. –M.T.H.
IRS to keep offices
open later for filers
The IRS will stay open later through Tuesday to accept tax returns at the downtown San Diego federal building and in San Marcos.
The offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
The San Diego office is at 880 Front St. The San Marcos office is at 1 Civic Center Drive.
An IRS spokesman said today's hours are mainly for people who normally don't file a tax return but will need to this year to receive an economic stimulus payment in May. Returns may be filed electronically through the IRS Web site, irs.gov. –P.R.
Staff writers Robert Krier, Anne Krueger, Adrian Vore, Mike Lee, Matthew T. Hall and Pauline Repard contributed to this report.
