A ridging pattern remained locked in place across the Desert Southwest during this time period, producing a long lasting heat wave from September 29th to October 5th. Daily record highs were tied or broken for seven consecutive days at various sites across Southern California with this excessive heat event.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS SGX wrote it up.
A ridging pattern remained locked in place across the Desert Southwest during this time period, producing a long lasting heat wave from September 29th to October 5th. Daily record highs were tied or broken for seven consecutive days at various sites across Southern California with this excessive heat event. The Candy Fire burned some areas of vegetation in the Inland Empire.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 excessive heat, 1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
Widespread 90s and low 100s were reported with this event. The San Diego Airport ASOS hit 96 degrees on September 30th and 97 degrees on October 1st, breaking the daily record highs both days.
High temperatures from the 90s at the beaches to just over 100 degree readings were reported a few miles inland during this heat wave. John Wayne Airport ASOS reached 100 degrees on September 30th.
Temperatures over 100 degrees occurred across the region during this heat wave. El Cajon reached 107 degrees on the 30th, breaking the daily record high temperature.
Temperatures rose over the century mark across the Inland Empire during this heat wave. The Riverside Airport ASOS reached 108 degrees on the 30th, tying the daily record high.
The Candy Fire burned 227 acres of vegetation on the 29th and 30th in the hills just north of Lake Elsinore near the intersection of Gavilan Road and Lake Matthews Drive. The fire was 100% contained on the evening of the 30th with no reports of structural damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in California, September 2020
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 921483, 921486, 921487, 921488, 921597.