Excessive Heat — Joshua Tree Np East, California

2020-08-20 · Joshua Tree Np East, California

Event narrative

During a record-setting month for heat, a prolonged period of unseasonably high temperatures was observed during the middle of the month. Afternoon temperatures were reaching upwards of 105-115 degrees each day and only cooling off into the upper-70 to low-80s in the mornings. On the 20th, at the end of this week and a half long stretch of heat, the body of a 42 year old male was discovered next to a sedan along Black Eagle Mine Road in Joshua Tree National Park by park visitors. It appeared the man's vehicle became disabled/stuck on the unpaved and unmaintained road that is intended for 4x4 vehicles. Park officials deemed the fatality heat-caused and said that the man likely died several hours before being found.

Wider weather episode

A prolonged period of unseasonably high temperatures was observed in southeast California during the middle of August. Daily afternoon temperatures reached up to 105-115 each day, with lows only falling into the upper-70s to low-80s. A heat-caused fatality was reported in Joshua Tree National Park on the 20th after an individual's vehicle became disabled along an unmaintained road intended for 4x4 vehicles.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 932463. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.