1936 North American heat wave

Meteorological Onset in June 1936

The heat wave began with a brief spike in the northeastern United States in early June. On June 3, 1936, Allentown, Pennsylvania, reached 95 °F (35 °C), which was 20 °F (11 °C) above average, while New York City hit 90 °F (32 °C). As the month progressed, intense heat began to build over the Rocky Mountains and the southeastern states. In the western United States, Salt Lake City, Utah, saw record highs of 101 °F (38 °C) on June 20 and 22, while Grand Junction, Colorado, experienced five days above 100 °F (38 °C). The heat exhibited extreme variability, with Pueblo, Colorado, seeing only one day above 100 °F, while Lamar, Colorado, endured eleven consecutive days of such heat. In the Southeast, the heat intensified by mid-month with Birmingham, Alabama, experiencing highs in the upper 90s to near 100 °F (38 °C) from June 16 through 19.

Huntsville, Alabama, recorded a string of five days above 100 °F, setting new daily records on four of those days. June 17 proved particularly hot, with Atlanta, Georgia, setting a daily record of 102 °F (39 °C) and Evansville, Indiana, reaching 100 °F. The heat began its northward spread on June 19, triggering record daily highs in St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, and Topeka, Kansas. A dramatic escalation occurred on June 20, when several states set monthly or all-time record highs. Corning, Arkansas, hit 113 °F (45 °C), Dodson, Louisiana, reached 110 °F (43 °C), Greenwood, Mississippi, recorded 111 °F (44 °C), and Doniphan, Missouri, soared to 112 °F (44 °C). Dozens of other cities, including Shreveport, Louisiana (104 °F), Little Rock, Arkansas (105 °F), and Memphis, Tennessee (103 °F), also set daily records.

The heat continued to push north and east, culminating on June 29 with state monthly records of 110 °F (43 °C) in Saint John, Kentucky, and Etowah, Tennessee, and 111 °F (44 °C) in Seymour, Indiana. This day was particularly brutal, with many areas across the South and Midwest reporting record highs for the month. Springfield, Illinois, hit 103 °F (39 °C) falling just short of the 104 °F (40 °C) record set in 1934. Galesburg, Illinois, hit 102 °F (39 °C) and Lexington, Kentucky, hit 104 °F (40 °C) which remains their hottest temperature ever recorded in June. Numerous other cities also set daily record high temperatures on this day.

The Catastrophic Peak in July 1936

July began with relative mildness in some areas, but conditions changed drastically on Independence Day. A massive heat dome formed over the Midwest, sending temperatures soaring. On July 4, Peoria, Illinois, reached 106 °F (41 °C), Sioux City, Iowa, hit 111 °F (44 °C) for its highest temperature on record, and Kansas City, Missouri, hit 108 °F (42 °C). The heat intensified and spread rapidly over the following days. July 6 saw the highest temperature ever recorded in North Dakota, a staggering 121 °F (49 °C) in Steele, a location that had experienced a record low of -60 °F (-51 °C) just five months earlier. Fargo and Bismarck both hit 114 °F (46 °C) that same day, and Moorhead, Minnesota, set its record high of 113 °F (45 °C).

The heat dome expanded to the Great Lakes and then the Northeast. On July 9, numerous all-time record highs were set across major cities. Central Park in New York City hit 106 °F (41 °C), Philadelphia reached 103 °F (39 °C), and Detroit recorded 102 °F (39 °C). The peak of the heat in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast occurred on July 10, with Baltimore hitting 107 °F (42 °C), Washington DC reaching 105 °F (41 °C), and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, soaring to 111 °F (44 °C). Meanwhile, the core of extreme heat remained over the north-central states. July 14 was the peak day for most affected areas, with countless records broken across the Midwest and Great Plains.

The heat was most intense in the Midwest, where Collegeville, Indiana, reported 116 °F (47 °C) and Mt. Vernon, Illinois, hit 114 °F (46 °C). Major cities like St. Louis, Missouri, and Louisville, Kentucky, reached 108 °F (42 °C) and 107 °F (42 °C), respectively. Although the Midwest began to cool thereafter, the heat persisted and even intensified over the Great Plains. On July 18, Kansas set its all-time record high of 121 °F (49 °C) in Fredonia, while Oklahoma reached 120 °F (49 °C) in Alva. This extreme heat over the Plains continued into late July, with Nebraska and Iowa setting additional records on July 24 and 25.

• July 6: Steele, ND hits 121°F, the state's all-time high.
• July 9: Widespread all-time records in the Northeast, including NYC (106°F).
• July 10: Peak heat in Mid-Atlantic. Baltimore hits 107°F.
• July 14: Peak day for Midwest. Collegeville, IN hits 116°F.
• July 18: Kansas all-time record of 121°F set in Fredonia.
• July 25: Lincoln, NE hits 115°F with a low of only 91°F.

Prolonged Heat and Record-Setting August

While the most extreme temperatures of the heat wave subsided in late July for the Midwest, August 1936 became the warmest month on record for five U.S. states. Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana all set all-time high temperature records during this period. Many regions, particularly in the southern Plains, endured long stretches where daily maximum temperatures reached 100 °F (38 °C) or warmer. These conditions exacerbated the ongoing drought, further parching the landscape and devastating already struggling farms. The relentless heat finally began to break in September, though temperatures and precipitation levels remained abnormal for the season. The summer of 1936 concluded as the warmest on record for the contiguous United States since official records began in 1895, a distinction it held until 2021.

This extreme heat was preceded by one of the coldest winters ever recorded, with February 1936 being the coldest February on record. This dramatic temperature swing from record cold to record heat within a single year placed unprecedented stress on the environment, infrastructure, and population. The full year of 1936 finished just above the average temperature, a statistic masked by the extreme seasonal contrasts. The drought and heat largely ended in September, but farmers' harvests were destroyed and grounds remained parched well into the autumn. Seasonable temperatures did not fully return until the autumn months.

Human Toll and Societal Impact

The human cost of the heat wave was staggering. In the United States, as many as 5,000 heat-related deaths were reported. Nearly 5,000 additional people across the continent suffered from heat stroke and heat exhaustion, with the elderly being particularly vulnerable. The tragedy was magnified in high-population-density urban areas where the urban heat island effect trapped the heat. Cities like Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Toronto were among the hardest hit. The technological context of the era significantly worsened the crisis because air conditioning was in its infancy and virtually absent from homes, offices, and public buildings.

People had few means of escape from the oppressive heat. Public health responses were limited, and many deaths occurred among those living in poorly ventilated tenements. Interestingly, electricity demand patterns were opposite to those seen in modern heat waves. With few air conditioners to run but many electric stoves in use, people cooked far less to avoid generating additional heat, leading to an overall reduction in electrical consumption. The agricultural impact was devastating and compounded the economic woes of the Great Depression. Farmers across the continent watched their crops fail under the dual assaults of extreme heat and prolonged drought.

Farmers across the continent saw crop failure, causing corn and wheat prices to rise quickly. The summer of 1936 featured the most widespread and destructive heat wave to occur in the Americas in centuries. The 1930s, the Dust Bowl years, are remembered as the driest and warmest decade for the United States. Summer 1936 remained the warmest summer on record in the USA since official records began in 1895, until 2021. The heat wave and drought largely ended in September, although many states were still drier and warmer than average.

Enduring Meteorological Records

The 1936 heat wave set temperature benchmarks that demonstrated remarkable longevity. Many of the state and city record highs established that summer stood unchallenged for generations. As of 2022, 13 U.S. state record high temperatures were still those set in 1936, illustrating the event's exceptional intensity. The records set were not merely daily anomalies but all-time historical peaks for numerous locations. The following table lists a selection of the all-time state record high temperatures set during the 1936 heat wave, showing its geographic reach and severity.

Beyond state records, countless municipal records were also established. For example, the 113 °F (45 °C) recorded in Moorhead, Minnesota, on July 6 remains the city's all-time high. Similarly, the 111 °F (44 °C) in Sioux City, Iowa, set on July 4, stood as that city's record for decades. The persistence of these records for most of the 20th century made the 1936 event a key benchmark for climatologists and historians studying extreme weather.

The Heat Wave in Canadian Context

While the most extreme temperatures were concentrated in the United States, Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairie provinces, suffered significantly. The reported death toll of 780 direct and 400 indirect fatalities highlights the severe impact on Canadian communities. Major urban centres like Toronto experienced deadly conditions similar to those in U.S. cities, with heat-related illnesses spiking among vulnerable populations. The heat wave compounded the economic difficulties of the Depression era in Canada, straining public health resources and affecting agricultural output in regions already dealing with drought conditions. The event is a stark reminder of Canada's vulnerability to extreme continental weather patterns.

The heat dome that baked the U.S. Midwest extended its influence northward, demonstrating how weather disasters do not respect national borders. The Canadian experience of the 1936 heat wave shares many parallels with that of the United States, including the lack of cooling infrastructure, the urban mortality crisis, and the agricultural losses. It remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in Canadian history, though it is often overshadowed in historical memory by the concurrent Dust Bowl narrative centred on the United States. The Canadian impact confirms the continental scale of the meteorological event and its human cost.

Historical Legacy and Modern Relevance

The 1936 heat wave left a deep imprint on public memory and policy. It highlighted the deadly combination of extreme weather, economic vulnerability, and inadequate public infrastructure. The event is frequently studied by climatologists as a prime example of natural climate variability and its potential impacts. It also serves as a historical baseline against which modern heat waves, often influenced by anthropogenic climate change, are measured. The fact that so many of its records stood for over 75 years speaks to its exceptional nature, while their eventual breaking in the 21st century signals a shift in climatic extremes. The disaster influenced later approaches to urban planning, public health warning systems, and the development of cooling technologies.

The mass fatalities in cities spurred discussions about housing quality, green spaces, and community cooling centres, concepts that remain relevant in modern heat action plans. The heat wave, occurring alongside the Dust Bowl, became a defining environmental catastrophe of the 1930s, shaping the period's cultural and historical narrative. A new historical analysis of the event, titled The Summer of Death: The Great Heat Wave of 1936 and the Making of Modern-Day America by Geoff Williams, is scheduled for publication in June 2026, indicating ongoing scholarly and public interest in this significant event. The lessons from 1936 continue to inform preparedness for extreme heat events today, emphasizing the need for strong public health responses and climate adaptation strategies.

• Benchmark for Extremes: Served as the continental heat wave benchmark for most of the 20th century.
• Policy Influence: Highlighted need for urban heat mitigation and public health responses.
• Agricultural Lessons: Demonstrated catastrophic synergy between heat, drought, and economic stress.
• Climatological Study: Remains a key case study in natural climate variability and extreme event analysis.
• Cultural Memory: A defining disaster of the 1930s, intertwined with the Dust Bowl narrative.
• Modern Comparison: Provides a historical baseline for assessing contemporary heat waves influenced by climate change.

Questions about 1936 North American heat wave

What was the highest temperature recorded during the 1936 heat wave?

The highest temperature recorded was 121 °F (49 °C). This occurred in Steele, North Dakota, on July 6, 1936, which is the highest temperature ever recorded in North Dakota. Kansas also set a record high of 121 °F (49 °C) in Fredonia on July 18, 1936. Other notable highs included 118 °F (48 °C) in Hartington, Nebraska, and 117 °F (47 °C) in parts of Iowa and Nebraska.

Why was the 1936 heat wave so deadly?

Several converging factors led to the high mortality. The heat wave occurred during the Great Depression, when many people were impoverished and living in substandard housing with poor ventilation. Air conditioning was virtually non-existent in homes and public buildings. The event followed an extremely cold winter, leaving a population physically stressed. Public health infrastructure and heat warning systems were rudimentary or nonexistent, leaving people unprepared and unable to find effective relief from the relentless heat.

How long did the 1936 heat wave last?

The heat wave was not a single continuous event but a series of intense pulses spanning from June through August 1936. The most catastrophic period was in July, particularly from July 4 through July 15 in the Midwest and Northeast, and again around July 18 in the Great Plains. Many areas experienced weeks of temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C). The extreme conditions largely ended in September, though the summer of 1936 overall remains the warmest on record in U.S. history.

Are any temperature records from 1936 still standing today?

Yes, as of 2022, 13 U.S. state record high temperatures were still those set during the 1936 heat wave, demonstrating its exceptional intensity. Many city and local records also endured for decades. While the 2012 North American heat wave broke numerous records that had stood since 1936, a significant number remain unbroken. The longevity of these records cemented the 1936 event as the benchmark for extreme heat in North America for most of the 20th century.

How many people died in the 1936 heat wave?

The heat wave caused more than 5,000 deaths in the United States. In Canada, there were 780 direct and 400 indirect deaths reported. These fatalities occurred during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Many deaths happened in high population density urban areas such as Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto. Nearly 5,000 additional people suffered from heat stroke and exhaustion, particularly the elderly. Air conditioning was largely absent from houses and commercial buildings at that time.

Did the 1936 heat wave affect Canada?

Yes, the 1936 heat wave affected Canada. Canadian authorities reported 780 direct and 400 indirect deaths due to the heat. Major urban areas like Toronto were significantly impacted. The heat wave occurred in the middle of the 1930s, a decade remembered as the driest and warmest for the United States. The summer of 1936 featured the most widespread and destructive heat wave to occur in the Americas in centuries. This event compounded existing economic hardships during the Great Depression.

Sources and further reading

• 1936 North American heat wave (Wikipedia)
• Heatwave of July 1936 (weather.gov)
• 1936 North American heat wave hit parts of Canada hard (theweathernetwork.com)
• The Impact of the 1936 North American Heat Wave (rainviewer.com)
• The 1936 North American Heat Wave (ancestry.com)

Checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.