Excessive Heat — Joshua Tree National Park, California

2011-08-22 to 2011-08-27 · Joshua Tree National Park, California

Event narrative

Strong high pressure developed over southeast California during late August, and led to excessive heat across Joshua Tree National Park beginning on Monday August 22nd. High temperatures across the east end of the park climbed well in excess of 100 degrees Monday, and peaked above 110 Tuesday through Saturday. The excessive heat led to the deaths of a 44 year old Dutch man and a 38 year old German woman on Monday afternoon. According to Lt. Tingle of the Sheriff's Indio station, the bodies were found near Black Eagle Mine road. The dead man was found on the edge of the road, about a mile and a half east of Pinto Basin Road, north of the Cottonwood Visitor's Center. The dead woman was found about one mile east of the man's body. Captain Raymond Gregory of the Sheriff's Indio station reported that the pair entered the park shortly before noon, and that they abandoned their vehicle in an area deemed impassable to passenger vehicles. Evidence indicated that they both succumbed to exposure to the elements.

Wider weather episode

Strong high pressure developed over southeast California during the latter portion of August, leading to excessive heat across Joshua Tree National Park. High temperatures on Monday, August 22nd climbed well above 100 degrees in the lower elevations of the park, and were in excess of 110 degrees over the hotter lower deserts from Tuesday through Saturday. The excessive heat led to the death of two foreign tourists on Monday, August 22nd.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 328830. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.