Excessive Heat — Coachella Valley, California

2023-07-11 to 2023-07-22 · Coachella Valley, California

Event narrative

A long-duration, excessive heat wave impacted the Coachella Valley from July 11-22. Highs in the lower deserts generally ranged from 110-120 each day, with the highest temperatures occurring on Thursday, July 20 and Friday, July 21. The following are the highest temperatures recorded through the event, and the days on which they occurred:

Palm Springs AP: 120 (7/21/23); Palm Springs ranged from 113-120 through the duration of the event, with overnight lows of 83-93 degrees each day. Palm Springs broke a high temperature record of 119 (7/20), breaking the previous record of 118, and 120 (7/21), tying the previous record of 120.

Indio: 119 (7/20/23); Indio ranged from 111-119 through the duration of the event, with overnight lows of 90-96 degrees each day. Indio broke a highest minimum temperature record at 94 (7/18), breaking the previous record of 91. Indio broke a high temperature record of 119 (7/20), breaking the previous record of 117, and 118 (7/21), breaking the previous record of 117.

Thermal Airport: 118 (7/20/23 and 7/21/23) Thermal ranged from 111-118 through the duration of the event, with overnight lows of 77-93 degrees each day. Thermal broke a highest minimum temperature record at 89 (7/13), breaking the previous record of 88, at 92 (7/18), breaking the previous record of 86. Thermal broke a high temperature record of 117 (7/20), breaking the previous record of 115.

Wider weather episode

A long duration heat wave impacted inland portions of Southern California July 7 to 29 with nearly continuous warnings and advisories. San Diego County public health reported 224 heat related incidents around their network of 23 hospitals. Numerous record highs were broken in the lower deserts where temperatures topped 115 for many days in a row, as well as across the inland valleys and mountains. Overnight low temperatures remained elevated in the lower deserts as lows only fell into the mid-80s to mid-90s, exacerbating the extreme heat risk.

July 2023 was the hottest month on record at Palm Springs.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1121677. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.