Staying safe is more of a challenge this week while staying active outside anywhere in San Diego County. Recent warmer than usual temperatures have allowed more people to enjoy a walk, hike, and other outdoor exercise throughout the day. The last week of winter brings an unseasonable heatwave sta rting Monday when weather forecasters say temperatures will jump into the upper 80s along the coast and 90s and 100s inland and in the mountains. “I have a full water bladder with me, and I brought some electrolytes, and some sunblock,” said Sara Hrachovy, after her hike on Cowles Mountain, Sunday morning. She told NBC 7, “If I do anything outdoors it’s going to be early in the morning before work. I try to avoid going outside when it’s like over 80 (degrees) in the afternoon.”  Cowles Mountain is one of the most popular places in the county to hike. It is home to Mission Trails Regional Park and provides several paths to the summit which is the highest point in the City of San Diego at almost 1,600 feet. With steep elevations and not much shade, the mountain can be dangerous for hikers who are not prepared to prevent symptoms of heat related illness. My skin actually felt like it was burning. I felt it on my face for two days after. The burn is intense. Raquel Salcedo, a hiker who experienced heat exhaustion Raquel Salcedo recently started hiking Cowles Mountain again after orders from her doctor. She does it to stay fit. Last weekend, a hike later in the morning when the sun and temperatures were high, made her sick. “My skin actually felt like it was burning. I felt it on my face for two days after. The burn is intense,” she said. These are some of the signs that you could be suffering heat-related illness. The information can by found on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Courtesy of NBC 7. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide information on heat-related illness that include signs like headaches, nausea, dizziness, excessive sweating, and muscle cramps. If left untreated, the CDC reports symptoms can lead to organ failure and death. In a new study by the Yale School of Public Health, researchers found that while cold weather continues to be a leading contributor to U.S. deaths annually, deaths linked to heat exposure surged more than 50% over the past two decades. Back on Cowles Mountain, Sunday, Patrick Khalife completed a six-mile hike to and from Pyles Peak at 1,379 feet. “To me it’s always interesting that people talk about the great San Diego weather, and it is fantastic. But, you’ve got to watch out for these hot days, and it seems they’re getting more common,” Khalife said. ...read more read less