If you walked outside this weekend and wondered when Rancho Santa Fe relocated to New Orleans, you weren’t imagining it.
Humidity around the Ranch reached 83% Saturday night which is more like the French Quarter in August than the breezy, moderate Southern California summer we know and love. I wonder if our friends, the “Zonies,” are choosing to stay home in their “but-it’s-a-dry-heat” triple digits than venture west to our SoCal steam bath.
What the Next 10 Days Look Like
The good news is temperatures should lower somewhat this week. The bad news is the mugginess may be sticking around for a while. The Rancho Santa Fe forecast calls for a steady stretch of summer weather, with daytime temperatures ranging from the mid-70s into the low 80s, with some warmer days possible as we head into September. Overnight lows should remain mostly in the mid-to-upper 60s.
In other words, we’re not exactly Phoenix. But when the humidity is this high, it’s worth treating an 85-degree afternoon with a little respect.
Water, Water, Water
The reason humidity matters is pretty simple: sweat cools us when it evaporates. When the air is already loaded with moisture, that process doesn’t work as well. So this is probably not the week to be marathon training at 2 p.m.
A few common-sense reminders:
- Drink before you’re thirsty. Keep the water bottles filled, particularly for kids playing outside. Frequent water breaks are a good idea, even when no one is asking for one.
- Save the long walk for morning or evening. The hottest part of the day is generally between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pickleball, tennis, gardening and that ambitious trail walk will all still be there later.
- Check the pavement. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. Pool decking, playground equipment and metal car-seat buckles can get surprisingly hot, too.
- Watch for signs that someone has had enough. Heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea and unusual fatigue can all be signs of heat exhaustion. Get the person somewhere cool and offer water. Confusion, fainting or a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher can signal heat stroke and requires immediate medical attention.
- And this one shouldn’t need saying, but it’s too important not to: never leave a child or pet in a parked car. Not even for a few minutes.
Looking for Cool Escape?
The kids may be back in school, but summer isn’t going quetly. With a few weeks left on the calendar, there are worse excuses for spending an afternoon with a good book or a bucket of popcorn.
And you don’t even have to leave the Ranch. The Rancho Santa Fe Library, right in the Village on Avenida de Acacias, is an official County Cool Zone. Its air-conditioned, quiet and stocked with books, Wi-Fi and plenty of reasons to linger. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. If it’s Sunday, or you’re looking for a change of scenery, the Encinitas Library offers another cool escape, with the bonus of ocean views.
Or go with the obvious: head to the beach. Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach has a little pocket of sand tucked beneath the bluffs, a playground above it and plenty of places within walking distance to grab food, an ice cream or something cold. Sometimes the best way to beat the heat is simply to get closer to the coast.
Then there is always the time-honored summer solution: go to the movies. Cinépolis at Del Mar Highlands has reclining seats, current releases and food delivered right to your seat. For the little ones, Del Mar Highlands has a pop-jet fountain where kids can cool off, conveniently located within striking distance of lunch, ice cream and the theater. That’s practically a summer survival plan.
Of course, there’s another perfectly respectable option: stay home, crank up the air conditioning, grab a cold beverage and wait this thing out. Because after all this sticky heat, that cool gray marine layer we complain about about is sounding pretty good.