Heat in California

Events

1,200

Deaths

153

Injuries

518

Damage

$493 million

• Heat in California, July 16 to 27, 200646 deaths · 18 injured · $493 million · 8 eventsArguably one of the hottest spells widespread across California, including Interior Central California, in the last 75 years occurred during a warm period that spanned from the 16th through the 27th of the month.
• Heat in California, July 21 to 27, 200616 deaths · 27 injured · 11 eventsStrong high pressure centered over the southwest United States and monsoon moisture during the last half of July led to numerous daily high minimum and high maximum temperature records, some of which were all time records.
• Heat in California, June 14, 20009 deaths · 102 injured · 7 eventsThis unusual early summer record breaking heat wave was responsible for 10 deaths in the Bay Area and a large number of heat related injuries. Temperature record of 103 degrees in San Francisco tied the all time record high temperature.
• Heat in California, July 7 to 12, 20248 deaths · 1 eventA prolonged and extended heat wave impacted the state of California from the early to the middle of July. An upper level ridge set up over the region, leading to a historically long period of dangerous heat.
• Heat in California, September 4 to 10, 20224 deaths · 64 injured · 25 eventsA strong ridge of high pressure encompassed the Western CONUS from September 1st through 8th, leading to anomalously hot temperatures along the California coast, and even more extreme temperatures in interior valleys and all mountain zones, where very hot daytime temperatures…
• Wildfire and Heat in California, August 1 to 7, 19975 deaths · $1.8 million · 10 eventsTinder dry brush and hot, dry weather, intensified a fire which burned 457 acres on the north side of Lake Wohlford. Although arson was blamed for starting the blaze, shifting seabreeze winds of 15 to 25 mph, helped keep it from being controlled.
• Excessive Heat and Heat in California, September 1 to 4, 20075 deaths · 4 injured · 16 eventsStrong high pressure and easterly flow brought hot, humid weather to much of Southern California.
• Heat in California, August 15, 19964 deaths · 1 eventA week-long stretch of temperatures over 100 degrees, topping at 110 degrees for two days, combined with higher-than-normal relative humidities led to 4 heat-related deaths in Kern County.
• Heat in California, October 4, 201475 injured · 1 eventThe month of October began with a strong ridge of high pressure over the southwestern United States, as well as offshore flow due to surface high pressure over the Great Basin. This resulted in an extended heat wave through the 5th.
• Heat in California, July 9, 20083 deaths · 3 injured · 3 eventsA strong upper level ridge brought hot weather to much of the area from July 6th to the 10th. High temperatures well over the century mark were recorded, with records tied or set across the northern Central Valley on the 9th.
• Excessive Heat and Wildfire in California, June 10 to 11, 20193 deaths · 1 injured · $5,000 · 8 eventsThe combination of high pressure and strong offshore flow resulted in an early season heat wave across the Bay Area from June 9th to the 11th. Multiple daily records were broken across the region and multiple power outages were reported due to the heat.
• Excessive Heat and Heat in California, July 2 to 13, 20242 deaths · 32 eventsA large upper ridge of high pressure pushes inland into California on July 2. This ridge provided our area with a hot and dry airmass which persisted for several days until the ridge moved east and temperatures cooled below dangerous levels on July 14.
• Heat in California, July 9 to 15, 20022 deaths · 4 eventsStrong high pressure over the Western United States coupled with subtropical moisture flowing northwestward into Central California produced near-record high temperatures, record high minimum temperatures, and Heat Index readings above 105F from the 9th through the 15th of the…
• Heat in California, July 20, 20032 deaths · 1 eventThe truck a man and a woman were riding in became stuck near the Twentynine Palms Air-Ground Combat Center. They tried to walk for help, but were overcome by the heat and died.
• Heat in California, August 12, 20172 deaths · 1 eventTwo people died while hiking at Amboy Crater.
• Heat in California, August 18 to 20, 20212 deaths · 1 eventTwo hikers died of heat related causes in Death Valley National Park.
• Heat in California, May 7 to 11, 20011 death · 19 injured · 2 eventsOn 5/11/01, emergency crews rescued 19 people suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration on a freight train located near the city of Cabazon. The train was bound from Palm Springs to Los Angeles and it was unclear when the people had gotten on the train.
• Heat in California, June 13 to 15, 20001 death · 15 injured · 6 eventsVery hot weather persisted across Interior Northern California for three days, resulting in record and near record temperatures at most reporting sites.
• Heat in California, June 14 to 15, 199924 injured · 1 eventA group of men who had walked north from the Mexican Border near Tecate were found east of Julian suffering from dehydration and hypothermia. Skies were clear during their transit, daytime temperatures ranged between 100 and 117 degrees, and winds were southerly near 15 mph.
• Heat in California, August 4 to 6, 19981 death · 3 injured · 3 eventsTemperatures in the Kern County Deserts soared to greater than 110 degrees in several locations during the period of August 4th through 6th. The China Lake/Ridgecrest/Inyokern area climbed to 111 degrees F. on August 4th and 112 on the 5th.
• Heat in California, May 20 to 23, 20001 death · 3 injured · 1 eventA record setting heat wave resulted in the one death and the injury of three others from heat related ailments as they walked north through the mountainous region of San Diego County.
• Heat in California, July 26, 20091 death · 3 injured · 1 eventA woman died of heat-related causes in Death Valley National Park.
• Heat in California, March 16 to 21, 20261 death · 22 eventsAn unusually extreme, early-season heat wave impacted central California during the middle of March, setting several monthly heat records across the region.
• Heat in California, June 22 to 30, 20011 death · 2 injured · 1 eventTwo hikers, overcome by heat, were rescued at the 3000 foot elevation level. One was taken to the hospital and treated for dehydration. Another hiker, who also failed to take any provisions along, failed to return.
• Heat in California, June 23 to 27, 20201 death · 11 eventsA large upper ridge built into central California on June 22 and strengthened over the area on June 23 resulting in widespread triple digit heat across the San Joaquin Valley between June 23 and June 27.

Heat everywhereEvery kind of event in California

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 2026-09-24.