California, 2020Excessive Heat in California, September 17 to 18, 2020
September 17 to 18, 2020 · NWS SGX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones
A mid-level ridge of high pressure over the southwestern part of the country brought a two-day heat wave to parts of Southern California with record breaking temperatures.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 7
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
A mid-level ridge of high pressure over the southwestern part of the country brought a two-day heat wave to parts of Southern California with record breaking temperatures.
Excessive Heat, Coachella Valley
- When
- September 17, 8:00 AM PST to September 18, 8:00 PM PST
- Where
- Coachella Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Very hot temperatures ranging from 108 - 113 degrees occurred. The Palm Springs ASOS recorded 113 degrees on the 17th.
Excessive Heat, San Diego County Valleys
- When
- September 17, 8:00 AM PST to September 18, 8:00 PM PST
- Where
- San Diego County Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Temperatures soared close to 105 degrees in some spots during this heat wave. El Cajon tied its daily record of 104 degrees on the 18th.
Excessive Heat, San Diego County Mountains
- When
- September 17, 8:00 AM PST to September 18, 8:00 PM PST
- Where
- San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Some areas reported highs in the triple digits during this heat wave. The Campo COOP reported a high of 100 degrees on the 18th, breaking a daily record.
Excessive Heat, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire
- When
- September 17, 8:00 AM PST to September 18, 8:00 PM PST
- Where
- San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hot temperatures in upwards of 100 degrees were reported across the Inland Empire. The Chino ASOS reported a high temperature of 106 degrees on the 17th.
Excessive Heat, Orange County Inland
- When
- September 17, 8:00 AM PST to September 18, 8:00 PM PST
- Where
- Orange County Inland forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 33.677, -117.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Temperatures climbed into the upper 90s and low 100s in some spots during this heat wave. Santa Ana reached 99 degrees on the 17th and Anaheim broke a daily record, reaching 96, on the 18th.
Excessive Heat, San Diego County Coastal Areas
- When
- September 17, 8:00 AM PST to September 18, 8:00 PM PST
- Where
- San Diego County Coastal Areas forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
- Coordinates
- 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Temperatures soared into the upper 80s to low 90s in some coastal locations. Chula Vista tied a daily record high, reaching 91 degrees on the 17th.
Excessive Heat, San Diego County Deserts
- When
- September 17, 8:00 AM PST to September 18, 8:00 PM PST
- Where
- San Diego County Deserts forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Temperatures soared near 110 degrees in parts of the San Diego County Deserts, where Anza Borrego State Park tied their record daily high temperature of 110 degrees on the 17th.
- Excessive Heat
- Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flood in Washington, September 17 to 18, 2020$250 million · 1 event
- Flood and Hail in Oregon, September 17 to 18, 2020$41,000 · 50 kt wind · 22 events
- Heavy Rain in Virginia, September 17 to 18, 202050 events
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, September 17, 2020$50,000 · 56 kt wind · 10 events
- Tornadoes in South Carolina, September 17, 2020$51,000 · EF0 · 2 events
- Tornadoes in North Carolina, September 17, 2020$35,000 · EF0 · 2 events
- Tornado and Damaging Wind in Georgia, September 17, 2020EF1 · 2 events
- Tornado and Damaging Wind in South Carolina, September 17, 2020EF1 · 2 events
- Tornadoes in North Carolina, September 17 to 18, 2020EF1 · 2 events
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, September 17, 202011 events
- Heavy Rain in North Carolina, September 17 to 18, 20209 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds and Waterspout in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, September 17, 20206 events
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 920820, 920826, 920827, 920828, 920829, 921481, 921482.