Excessive Heat — San Diego County Deserts, California

2023-07-11 to 2023-07-22 · San Diego County Deserts, California

Event narrative

A long-duration, excessive heat wave impacted the San Diego County Deserts 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:

Borrego Springs: 117 (7/21/23) Borrego Springs ranged from 109-117 through the duration of the event, with overnight lows of 82-91 degrees each day.

Ocotillo Wells: 121 (7/20/23)Ocotillo Wells ranged from 113-121 through the duration of the event, with overnight lows of 87-98 degrees each day.

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 1121679. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.