Heatwaves are not unprecedented, but are a matter of degrees:
1540 European drought - Extreme drought and heatwave lasting 11 months in Europe.
July 1743 heatwave in China - Beijing reached 44.4 °C (111.9 °F) on July 25, higher than any modern records. 11,400 people reportedly died.[1]
July 1757 heatwave – Europe, hottest summer in Europe since 1540 and until 2003.[2][3][4]
1808 United Kingdom heat wave
1881 North American heat wave[5]
1896 Eastern North America heat wave – killed 1,500 people in August 1896.
1900 – historical heatwave of the center of Argentina between the first eight days of February 1900 known as "the week of fire" affected the cities of Buenos Aires and Rosario with temperatures of up to 37 °C (99 °F) but with a very high index of humidity that elevated the sensation of heat to 49 °C (120 °F) severely affecting the health of people and causing at least 478 fatalities. 20th century
1901 – 1901 eastern United States heat wave killed 9,500 in the Eastern United States.
1906 – during the 1906 United Kingdom heat wave which began in August and lasted into September broke numerous records. On September 2 temperatures reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F), which still holds the September record, however some places beat their local record during September 1911 and September 2016.
1911 – 1911 Eastern North America heat wave killed between 380 and 2,000 people.
1911 – 1911 United Kingdom heat wave was one of the most severe periods of heat to hit the country with temperatures around 36 °C (97 °F). The heat began in early July and didn't let up until mid-September where even in September temperatures were still up to 33 °C (91 °F). It took 79 years for temperature higher to be recorded in the United Kingdom during 1990 United Kingdom heat wave.
1911 – 41,072 deaths were reported during a heat wave in France.
1913 – in July, the hottest heat wave ever struck California. During this heat wave, Death Valley recorded a record high temperature of 57 °C (134 °F) at Furnace Creek, which still remains the highest ambient air temperature recorded on Earth.[6][7]
1921 – Hottest July on record across Eastern Canada and parts of the Northeastern US, part of a very warm year in those places. Parts of the United Kingdom also saw recording breaking heat, also part of a very warm year. The Central England Temperature for July was 18.5 °C (65.3 °F), which was the 8th warmest since records began in 1659, and the warmest since 1852. The year of 1921 was the warmest on record at the time but has since been eclipsed by 15 other years.[8]
1923–1924 – during a period of 160 such days from 31 October 1923 to 7 April 1924, the Western Australian town of Marble Bar reached 38 °C (100 °F).[9]
1930s – Almost every year from 1930 to 1938 featured historic heat waves and droughts somewhere in North America, part of the Dust Bowl years.
1936 – 1936 North American heat wave during the Dust Bowl, followed one of the coldest winters on record—the 1936 North American cold wave. Massive heat waves across North America were persistent in the 1930s, many mid-Atlantic/Ohio valley states recorded their highest temperatures during July 1934. The longest continuous string of 38 °C (100 °F) or higher temperatures was reached for 101 days in Yuma, Arizona during 1937 and the highest temperatures ever reached in Canada were recorded in two locations in Saskatchewan in July 1937.
1947 – record breaking temperature of 37.6 °C (99.7 °F) in Paris recorded on June 26, 1947.[10]
1950s – Prolonged severe drought and heat wave occurred in the early 1950s throughout the central and southern United States. Every year from 1952 to 1955 featured major heat waves across North America. In some areas it was drier than during the Dust Bowl and the heat wave in most areas was within the top five on record. The heat was particularly severe in 1954 with 22 days of temperatures exceeding 38 °C (100 °F) covering significant parts of eleven states. On 14 July, the thermometer reached 47 °C (117 °F) at East St. Louis, Illinois, which remains the record highest temperature for that state.[11][12][13]
October 1952 – Romania was hit by very hot weather. Temperatures reached 39.0 °C (102.2 °F) on 2 October, with Bucharest reaching 35.2 °C (95.4 °F). Temperatures on the night of 2–3 October were also just under 26 °C (79 °F).
1955 – 1955 United Kingdom heat wave was a period of hot weather that was accompanied by drought. In some places it was the worst drought on record, more severe than 1976 and 1995.
1960 – on 2 January, Oodnadatta, South Australia hit 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) degrees, the highest temperature ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere and Oceania.
1972 – heat waves of 1972 in New York and Northeastern United States were significant. Almost 900 people died; the heat conditions lasted almost 16 days, aggravated by very high humidity levels.
1976 – 1976 United Kingdom heat wave was one of the hottest in living memory and was marked by constant blue skies from May until September when dramatic thunderstorms signalled the heat wave's end.
1980 – estimated 1,000 people died in the 1980 United States heat wave and drought, which impacted the central and eastern United States. Temperatures were highest in the southern plains. From June through September, temperatures remained above 32 °C (90 °F) all but two days in Kansas City, Missouri. The Dallas/Fort Worth area experienced 42 consecutive days with high temperatures above 38 °C (100 °F), with temperatures reaching 47 °C (117 °F) at Wichita Falls, Texas on 28 June. Economic losses were $20 billion (1980 dollars).[14]
1981 – August 1981 heat wave in the Pacific Northwest.
1983 – during the Summer of 1983 temperatures over 38 °C (100 °F) were common across Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, and certain parts of Kentucky; the summer of 1983 remains one of the hottest summers ever recorded in many of the states affected. The hundred-degree readings were accompanied by very dry conditions associated with drought affecting the Corn Belt States and Upper Midwest. The heat also affected the Southeastern U.S. and the Mid-Atlantic states as well that same summer. New York Times represented articles about the heat waves of 1983 affecting the central United States.[15] This heat wave was associated with the I-94 derecho.
1983 – United Kingdom experienced a heatwave during July 1983. This was the hottest month ever recorded until it was beaten in 2006.
Temperature difference in Europe from the average during the European heat wave of 2003
1987 – prolonged heat wave from 20 to 31 July in Greece, with more than 1,000 deaths in the area of Athens. The maximum temperature measured was 41.9 °C (107.4 °F) at 23 July at the center of Athens and in the suburb of Nea Philadelphia, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) northeast was 43.6 °C (110.5 °F) on 27 July, and were combined with high minima, with the highest being 30.2 °C (86.4 °F) in the center of Athens at 27 July and 29.9 °C (85.8 °F) at 24 July at Nea Philadelfia. The lowest minimum was 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) at the center of Athens. Moreover, humidity was high and wind speeds low, contributing to human discomfort, even during the night.[16]
1988 – intense heat spells in combination with the drought of 1988, reminiscent of the dust bowl years caused deadly results across the United States. Official estimates report that 5,000 to 10,000 people died because of constant heat across the United States. Some estimates put total deaths at close to 17,000.[14]
1990 – cities across the United Kingdom broke their all-time temperature records in the dramatic 1990 United Kingdom heat wave temperatures peaked at 37 °C (99 °F). This led to one of the hottest Augusts on record, records going back to 1659.
1994 - Intense heat wave in Poland between July and August, with maximum temperature 39,5 degrees of Celsius. This heat caused 1076 additional deaths in 10 largest polish cities. [17]
1995 – 1995 Chicago heat wave produced record high dew point levels and heat indices in the Chicago area and Wisconsin; temperatures reached as high as 41 °C (106 °F). The lack of emergency cooling facilities and inadequate response from civic authorities to the senior population, particularly in lower income neighborhoods in Chicago and other Midwestern cities, lead to at least 778 deaths—mostly which were African American Chicagoans. A series of damaging derechos occurred on the periphery of the hot air dome.
1995 – United Kingdom experienced its 3rd hottest summer since 1659. August was the hottest on record since 1659. The summer was also the driest on record since 1766. Temperatures peaked at 35 °C (95 °F) on 1 August, which did not break the all-time record.
1997 – United Kingdom experienced its 3rd major heatwave in 7 years with August 1997 being one of the hottest on record.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heat_waves
July started off relatively mild in many areas, with many areas in the Midwest seeing highs in the upper-80's to low-90's. However, areas in the Central Great Plains saw temperature's in the 100's with Topeka, KS, Omaha, NE and other locations seeing daily record highs. On Independence Day, July 4, this all quickly changed.
Heat Dome Forms Over Midwest
July started off relatively mild in many areas, with many areas in the Midwest seeing highs in the upper-80's to low-90's. However, areas in the Central Great Plains saw temperature's in the 100's with Topeka, KS, Omaha, NE and other locations seeing daily record highs. On Independence Day, July 4, this all quickly changed.
Heat Dome Forms Over Midwest[edit]
On July 4, multiple areas centered around the Central Midwest saw temperatures spike into the 100's. Peoria, Illinois reached 106 °F (41 °C), Sioux City, Iowa hit 111 °F (44 °C) (their highest temperature on record), Des Moines, Iowa hit 109 °F (43 °C) (falling one degree short of the record), Springfield, Illinois hit 105 °F (41 °C), and Kansas City, Missouri hit 108 °F (42 °C). All these areas saw their hottest Independence Day on record. That night, temperatures would only fall into the 70's.[18][19][20]
On July 5, the heat persisted in these areas while spreading to others. Areas in Eastern Iowa had highs in the low to mid 100's, with Burlington, Iowa hitting 108 °F (42 °C) for the second day in a row. In Bismarck, North Dakota, the temperature hit 106 °F (41 °C) and in Aberdeen, South Dakota, it hit 108 °F (42 °C).[21]
On July 6, Steele, North Dakota hit 121 °F (49 °C), the highest temperature ever recorded in North Dakota. this occurred 5 months after the record low of −60 °F (−51 °C) was set in the state. Fargo and Bismarck both hit 114 °F (46 °C). In Moorhead, Minnesota, the record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was also set. The heat continued to spread, with Rockford, Illinois hitting 102 °F (39 °C), and Minneapolis, Minnesota and Grand Forks, North Dakota hitting 104 °F (40 °C) respectively.[22]
On July 7, the heat spread to the Great Lakes area. Milwaukee, Wisconsin hit 98 °F (37 °C), Madison, Wisconsin hit 102 °F (39 °C), Green Bay, Wisconsin hit 103 °F (39 °C), Duluth, Minnesota hit 100 °F (38 °C), and Kalamazoo, Michigan hit 101 °F (38 °C).[23][24][25][26] The heat also spread south, with Evansville, Indiana hitting 106 °F (41 °C), and Lexington, Kentucky hitting 101 °F (38 °C).
On July 8, heat began to creep back into the Northeastern United States, with some areas having highs in the 80's and 90's. Elsewhere the heat dome expanded more with Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne, Indiana hitting 104 °F (40 °C) respectively. South Bend, hit 106 °F (41 °C) (their second day above 100), and Louisville, Kentucky hit 103 °F (39 °C). Flint, Michigan hit 108 °F (42 °C), breaking the record.[27]
On July 9, temperature's spiked, with many all-time record highs being set in both the Great Lakes and Northeast United States. The recap of temperatures are as follows for July 9th.
Rockford, IL: 101 °F (38 °C)[22]
Pittsburgh, PA: 101 °F (38 °C)
Syracuse, NY: 102 °F (39 °C)
Rochester, NY: 102 °F (39 °C)
Detroit, MI: 102 °F (39 °C)[28]
Philadelphia, PA: 103 °F (39 °C)
Albany, NY: 103 °F (39 °C)[29]
Baltimore, MD: 103 °F (39 °C)
Scranton, PA: 103 °F (39 °C)
Washington DC: 104 °F (40 °C)
Johnstown, PA: 104 °F (40 °C)
Columbus, OH: 105 °F (40.6 °C)
Warren, OH: 105 °F (40.6 °C)
Williamsport, PA: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
Trenton, NJ: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
Central Park, New York City: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
On July 10, the heat peaked in Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with some areas setting all-time record highs in parts of the South and most of the Midwest. The recap is as follows.
Atlanta, GA: 100 °F (37.8 °C)
Pittsburgh PA: 101 °F (38.3 °C)
Detroit, MI: 102 °F (38.9 °C)[28]
Grand Rapids, MI: 102 °F (38.9 °C)[26]
Central Park, New York City: 102 °F (38.9 °C)[5]
Youngstown, OH: 103 °F (39.4 °C)
Philadelphia, PA: 104 °F (40.0 °C)
Richmond, VA: 105 °F (40.6 °C)
Washington DC: 105 °F (40.6 °C)
Lynchburg, VA: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
Rockford, IL: 106 °F (41.1 °C)[22]
Bowling Green, KY: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
St. Cloud, MN: 106 °F (41.1 °C)[30]
Baltimore, MD: 107 °F (41.7 °C)
Lexington, KY: 108 °F (42.2 °C)
Xenia, OH: 108 °F (42.2 °C)
Cumberland & Frederick, MD: 109 °F (42.8 °C)
Runyon, NJ: 110 °F (43.3 °C)
Phoenixville, PA: 111 °F (43.9 °C)
Martinsburg, WV: 112 °F (44.4 °C)
Aberdeen, SD: 114 °F (45.6 °C)
On July 11, the heat began subsided in the Northeast, though highs were still in the 90's. The heat temporarily stopped spreading but was still heavily impacting areas with Bismarck, ND recording a low of only 83°.
On July 13, the heat spread south through the Great Plains, with Wichita, Kansas reporting a high of 101 °F (38.3 °C), Fort Smith, Arkansas hitting 106 °F (41.1 °C), Tulsa, Oklahoma hitting 107 °F (41.7 °C), and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma hitting 101 °F (38.3 °C). Elsewhere, temperatures began to significantly rise with multiple areas hitting above 110 °F (43.3 °C). The recap is as follows:
Columbus, OH: 101 °F (38.3 °C)
Detroit, MI: 102 °F (38.9 °C)[28]
Green Bay, WI: 104 °F (40.0 °C)[24]
Minneapolis, MN: 105 °F (40.6 °C)[30]
Alpena, MI: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
Madison, WI: 106 °F (41.1 °C)[23]
Duluth, MN: 106 °F (41.1 °C)[25]
St. Cloud, MN: 107 °F (41.7 °C)[30]
Decatur, IL: 108 °F (42.2 °C)[18]
Grand Rapids, MI: 108 °F (42.2 °C)[26]
Evansville, IN: 108 °F (42.2 °C)
Kalamazoo, MI: 109 °F (42.8 °C)[26]
Rockford, IL: 110 °F (43.3 °C)[22]
Saginaw, MI: 111 °F (43.9 °C)[28]
Eau Claire, WI: 111 °F (43.9 °C)[31]
Waterloo, IA: 112 °F (44.4 °C)[21]
Mt. Vernon, IL: 112 °F (44.4 °C)[18]
Mio, MI: 112 °F (44.4 °C)
Henderson, KY: 113 °F (45.0 °C)
Wisconsin Dells, WI: 114 °F (45.6 °C)
July 14 was the peak day of the heat wave for most areas with countless record-breaking temperatures broken across many areas. The records are as follows.
Detroit, MI: 104 °F (40.0 °C) (105 °F (40.6 °C) on July 24, 1934)
Springfield, MO: 104 °F (40.0 °C) (113 °F (45.0 °C) in 1954)
Indianapolis, IN: 106 °F (41.1 °C) (tied July 22, 1901 and July 21, 1934)[32]
Columbus, OH: 106 °F (41.1 °C) (tied July 21, 1934)
Cincinnati, OH: 106 °F (41.1 °C) (tied July 24, 1934)
Madison, WI: 107 °F (41.7 °C)[23]
Louisville, KY: 107 °F (41.7 °C)
Kalamazoo, MI: 108 °F (42.2 °C)[26]
Minneapolis, MN: 108 °F (42.2 °C)[30]
Rochester, MN: 108 °F (42.2 °C)
Xenia, OH: 108 °F (42.2 °C)
St. Louis, MO: 108 °F (42.2 °C) (115 °F (46.1 °C) in 1954)
Lima, OH: 109 °F (42.8 °C)
Cedar Rapids, IA: 109 °F (42.8 °C)[18]
Dubuque, IA: 110 °F (43.3 °C)
Terre Haute, IN: 110 °F (43.3 °C)
Springfield, IL: 110 °F (43.3 °C) (112 °F (44.4 °C) in 1954)[18]
Decatur, IL: 110 °F (43.3 °C) (113 °F (45.0 °C) in 1954)[18]
Moline, IL: 111 °F (43.9 °C)[18]
Burlington, IA: 111 °F (43.9 °C)[18]
Rockford, IL: 112 °F (44.4 °C)[22]
Waterloo, IA: 112 °F (44.4 °C)[18]
Palestine, IL: 112 °F (44.4 °C) (114 °F (45.6 °C) in 1954)[18]
Mt. Vernon, IL: 114 °F (45.6 °C)[18]
Collegeville, IN: 116 °F (46.7 °C)
On July 15, temperatures finally began to decline over most areas while other isolated areas still saw heat still increase. Missouri hit an all-time high of 115 °F (46.1 °C) in Clinton, Missouri. Peoria, IL hit 113 °F (45.0 °C) and Quincy hit 114 °F (45.6 °C), setting all-time records for those cities.[18] In Iowa, many cities tied the records set the previous day. However, in the Great Plains temperatures continued to rise as a new heat wave began to develop.
Heat Persists over the Great Plains[edit]
Although heat in the Midwest had begun to subside, heat had been building in the Great Plains over that period. It began on July 13 when there was a noticeable increase in temperatures but began to peak on July 14.
On July 14, the temperature climbed to 107F in Lincoln, NE after having 5 days of temperature's in the low 100's, though that night it would be the first time the temperature fell below 80F in a week. Norfolk, NE hit 105F and Omaha, NE hit 109F. Further south, Topeka, KS hit 108F, and Kansas City, MO hit 109F. In Tulsa, OK, temperatures had been climbing the past couple days and hit 110F this day. This heat would persist into the next day before temperatures would fall noticeably on the 16th over the Central Great Plains.
On July 17, temperatures once again began to rise. Nebraska set a record high of 118F in Hartington, NE. Sioux City, IA and Sioux Falls, SD also set record highs of 110F.[20] In Grand Island, NE it was 114F, falling 2 degrees short of the record in 1934, while Hastings, NE would set a record of 115F. It was also 110F in Fort Smith, AR.
On July 18, the heat would peak. Kansas and Oklahoma set record highs of 121F in Fredonia and 120F in Alva, respectively. Wichita, KS hit 112F, Salina, KS hit 116F, 110F in Topeka, KS, and 113F in Tulsa, OK (a record high for July). On July 19, Oklahoma's record would be tied in Altus.
Latter part of July[edit]
For many areas, temperatures would be relatively lower for the last part of the month. Most areas saw highs fall below 100 °F (38 °C) on July 20 and 21 for the first time in nearly 2 weeks. However, temperatures would rise back into the 100's over the Great Plains after this, though generally wouldn't be as high as earlier in the month. The notable exception would be in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas.
On July 24, Grand Island, NE broke their record high with a high 117 °F (47 °C). Hastings, NE also set a new all-time high of 116 °F (47 °C). Both Kansas and Nebraska tied their all-time record highs in Alton and Minden, respectively just days after they were set.
On July 25, the temperature rose to 115 °F (46 °C) in Lincoln, NE (a record high for the city) but would only fall to 91 °F (33 °C) that night. Outside of the Desert Southwest, this is one of the highest low temperatures ever recorded in the US. Omaha, NE also set a record high of 114 °F (46 °C), though had a low of 83 °F (28 °C). On the previous day Grand Island, NE broke their record with a high 117 °F (47 °C). Des Moines, IA would set their record high of 110 °F (43 °C) this day as well.[21] Iowa set their record high of 117 °F (47 °C) in Atlantic and Logan.
August 1936 and afterwards[edit]
August was the warmest month on record for five states. Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana also set all-time high records. Many experienced long stretches of daily maximum temperatures 100 °F (38 °C) or warmer. Drought conditions worsened in some locations. Other states were only slightly warmer than average.
The heat wave and drought largely ended in September, although many states were still drier and warmer than average. Many farmers' summer harvests were destroyed. Grounds and lawns remained parched. Seasonable temperatures returned in the autumn.
Summer 1936 remained the warmest summer on record in the USA (since official records begin in 1895), until 2021.[33] However February 1936 was the coldest February on record, and 5 of the 12 months were below average, leaving the full year 1936 at just above the average.
Effects[edit]
As many as 5,000 heat-related deaths were reported in the United States,[3][34] and 780 direct and 400 indirect deaths in Canada.[35] Almost 5,000 people suffered from heat stroke and heat exhaustion, particularly the elderly. Unlike today, air conditioning was in the early stages of development and was therefore absent from houses and commercial buildings. Many of the deaths occurred in high-population-density areas of Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Toronto, and other urban areas. Farmers across the continent saw crop failure, causing corn and wheat prices to rise quickly. Droughts and heat waves were common in the 1930s. The 1930s (the Dust Bowl years) are remembered as the driest and warmest decade for the United States, and the summer of 1936 featured the most widespread and destructive heat wave to occur in the Americas in centuries. -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_North_American_heat_wave
U.S. slightly surpasses 1936 record for hottest summer ... CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com › Science Sep 10, 2021 — The contiguous U.S. just recorded its hottest summer ever, topping the previous record set in 1936 by less than a hundredth of a degree,
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