1936 North American heat wave

Meteorological Onset in June 1936

The heat wave began with brief high temperatures in the northeastern United States in early June, with Allentown, Pennsylvania, reaching 95°F (35°C) and New York City hitting 90°F (32°C) on June 3, while Baltimore, Maryland, had a high of 96°F (36°C). As the month progressed, intense heat began to build in the Rocky Mountains and the southeastern states, with Salt Lake City, Utah, seeing record highs of 101°F (38°C) on June 20 and 22 after starting the month with below-average temperatures. In the western United States, Grand Junction, Colorado, experienced five days above 100°F (38°C), setting records from June 18 through 20, while areas east of the Rockies in Colorado showed great variation, with Pueblo seeing one day above 100°F and Lamar seeing eleven consecutive days above that mark. In the Southeast and Midwest, the heat intensified dramatically by mid-June, with Birmingham, Alabama, seeing highs in the upper 90s to near 100°F (38°C) from June 16 through 19 and Huntsville, Alabama, recording a string of five days above 100°F (38°C), and for some areas, June 17 was the hottest day of the month, with Atlanta setting a daily record high of 102°F (39°C).

The heat spread northward on June 19, with St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, and Topeka, Kansas, setting daily record highs, and the following day saw several states set all-time monthly record highs. On June 20, Corning, Arkansas, hit 113°F (45°C), Dodson, Louisiana, reached 110°F (43°C), Greenwood, Mississippi, hit 111°F (44°C), and Doniphan, Missouri, recorded 112°F (44°C), while dozens of other cities like Shreveport, Louisiana, and Little Rock, Arkansas, also set daily records. By late June, the heat wave had firmly established itself across the central continent, with Nebraska setting a new monthly record high of 114°F (46°C) in Franklin on June 26. On June 29, states including Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana saw new monthly record highs, with Seymour, Indiana, reaching 111°F (44°C) and Saint John, Kentucky, and Etowah, Tennessee, both hitting 110°F (43°C), setting the stage for the even more extreme conditions that would follow in July.

The July Heat Dome and Peak Intensity

July began with relatively mild conditions in many areas, but the situation changed abruptly on Independence Day, July 4, when a massive heat dome formed over the Midwest, causing temperatures to spike into the 100s across a wide area. Sioux City, Iowa, hit 111°F (44°C), its highest temperature on record, while Peoria, Illinois, reached 106°F (41°C) and Kansas City, Missouri, hit 108°F (42°C), with all these areas seeing their hottest Independence Day on record and nighttime temperatures offering little relief, often staying in the 70s. The heat dome expanded rapidly over the following days, with Steele, North Dakota, recording 121°F (49°C) on July 6, the highest temperature ever recorded in the state just five months after its record low was set, and Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota, both hit 114°F (46°C) on the same day. The heat spread to the Great Lakes region by July 7, with Duluth, Minnesota, reaching 100°F (38°C) and Kalamazoo, Michigan, hitting 101°F (38°C), and it began affecting the northeastern United States by July 8, with Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana, hitting 104°F (40°C) and South Bend reaching 106°F (41°C).

July 9, 1936, saw many all-time record highs being set in both the Great Lakes and Northeast United States. On that day, Detroit, Michigan, reached 102 degrees Fahrenheit and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reached 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Central Park in New York City also set an all-time record high of 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The following day, July 10, marked the peak of the heat in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. On July 10, Baltimore, Maryland, hit 107 degrees Fahrenheit and Martinsburg, West Virginia, reached 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, recorded a high of 111 degrees Fahrenheit on that day. The heat began to subside in the Northeast on July 11, though highs were still in the 90s. In Bismarck, North Dakota, the heat was still heavily impacting the area, as it recorded a low temperature of only 83 degrees.

Record-Shattering Heat in the Great Plains

While the Midwest and Northeast endured the heat dome, the Great Plains experienced a separate but equally intense period of extreme heat that began to peak around July 13 and 14, as the heat spread south through the region. On July 13, Wichita, Kansas, reported a high of 101°F (38°C), Fort Smith, Arkansas, hit 106°F (41°C), and Tulsa, Oklahoma, hit 107°F (42°C), while elsewhere temperatures began to significantly rise with multiple areas hitting above 110°F (43°C). On July 14, the temperature climbed to 107°F (42°C) in Lincoln, Nebraska, after having five days in the low 100s, Omaha, Nebraska, hit 109°F (43°C), and Tulsa, Oklahoma, reached 110°F (43°C), with this heat persisting into the next day before temperatures fell noticeably on the 16th over the Central Great Plains. The heat reached its zenith in the Plains on July 17 and 18, with Nebraska setting a record high of 118°F (48°C) in Hartington and Kansas and Oklahoma setting staggering records on July 18, when Fredonia, Kansas, hit 121°F (49°C) and Alva, Oklahoma, reached 120°F (49°C).

On July 18, Wichita, Kansas, hit 112°F (44°C), Salina, Kansas, hit 116°F (47°C), Topeka, Kansas, reached 110°F (43°C), and Tulsa, Oklahoma, hit 113°F (45°C), a record high for July, and Oklahoma's record would be tied in Altus on July 19. The latter part of July saw a brief respite before another surge, with most areas seeing highs fall below 100°F (38°C) on July 20 and 21 for the first time in nearly two weeks, though temperatures would rise back into the 100s over the Great Plains afterwards, generally not as high as earlier. On July 24 and 25, Nebraska and Iowa again saw record-breaking heat, with Grand Island, Nebraska, breaking its record with 117°F (47°C), Hastings, Nebraska, setting a new all-time high of 116°F (47°C), and both Kansas and Nebraska tying their all-time record highs in Alton and Minden, respectively. Lincoln, Nebraska, hit 115°F (46°C) on July 25, with a low temperature of only 91°F (33°C), one of the highest minimums ever recorded in the United States outside the Desert Southwest, and Des Moines, Iowa, set its record high of 110°F (43°C) on the same day, with Iowa setting its record high of 117°F (47°C) in Atlantic and Logan.

Impact and Conditions in Canada

The 1936 heat wave struck parts of Canada with devastating force, particularly in Manitoba and Ontario, and is considered one of Canada's deadliest heat waves, hitting on Sunday, July 5, 1936. On that date, extreme heat hit these provinces as part of the broader continental system, with temperatures in Ontario and Manitoba reaching 43°C (109°F), tying previous heat records, and by that date, Ontario was already in a state of severe drought. Areas along what is now the Queen Elizabeth Way corridor, from Hamilton to Niagara and Lake Erie, were described in the Toronto Daily Star as a parched waste, and the heat intensified over the following days, with temperatures surpassing 40°C (104°F) in Toronto by July 9. Newspapers referred to some city areas as downtown slums and districts of torture due to the oppressive conditions, with drivers lining up on Fleet Street hoping to catch a breeze from Lake Ontario, as residents sought any relief possible from the relentless heat.

As many as 5,000 heat-related deaths were reported in the United States. In Canada, there were 780 direct and 400 indirect deaths reported. Many of the deaths occurred in high-population-density urban areas like Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Toronto. This event highlighted the vulnerability of urban populations to extreme heat. Air conditioning was in the early stages of development and was therefore absent from houses and commercial buildings at that time. The heat wave occurred in the middle of the Great Depression, which was a period of significant economic hardship.

Human Toll and Societal Effects

The human cost of the 1936 heat wave was immense, with as many as 5,000 heat-related deaths reported in the United States and 780 direct and 400 indirect deaths in Canada, totaling more than 5,000 across North America. In the United States, nearly 5,000 people suffered from heat stroke and exhaustion, with the elderly being particularly vulnerable due to the lack of cooling infrastructure and the intensity of the prolonged heat. Major urban centres with high population density saw significant mortality, including Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Toronto, where public health systems were strained under the sudden crisis and many deaths occurred. The societal context magnified the disaster, as the heat wave occurred during the Great Depression, a time of widespread economic hardship, and air conditioning was in its early stages of development and virtually absent from homes and commercial buildings, leaving people with few ways to escape the heat.

With few air conditioners in service, but many electric ranges, electricity consumption was affected in an opposite way to heat waves of the mid-20th Century or later. People did much less cooking while under near record or true record heat, so demand for electricity was reduced. This pattern demonstrates how technological adoption changes societal responses to environmental extremes. The heat wave took place in the middle of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The summer of 1936 featured the most widespread and destructive heat wave to occur in the Americas in centuries.

Agricultural and Environmental Consequences

The heat wave exacerbated the already dire agricultural conditions of the Dust Bowl years, with farmers across the continent seeing widespread crop failure and the destruction of corn and wheat harvests causing commodity prices to rise quickly. Drought conditions worsened in some locations, leaving grounds and lawns parched for months, and the heat wave and drought largely ended in September, although many states were still drier and warmer than average. The summer of 1936 remained the warmest on record in the United States since official records began in 1895, until 2021, and the extreme heat was part of a larger climatic pattern, as the 1930s are remembered as the driest and warmest decade for the United States. The summer of 1936 featured the most widespread and destructive heat wave to occur in the Americas in centuries, according to historical assessments, and it caused long-lasting damage to the agricultural sector.

The environmental catastrophe led to lasting changes in agricultural practices and land management across North America, as a result of the Dust Bowl experience. New farming methods and techniques were developed, along with a focused effort on soil conservation, which has helped to avert or minimize the impact of a prolonged drought in subsequent decades. These innovations, including contour plowing and the creation of shelterbelts, were direct responses to the soil erosion and crop failures seen during events like the 1936 heat wave. The event remains a key case study in the intersection of climate, agriculture, and human adaptation, informing modern preparedness efforts.

Historical Context and Climatic Extremes

The 1936 heat wave was notable not only for its summer extremes but also for its place within a year of remarkable climatic contrasts, as it followed one of the coldest winters on record in North America. February 1936 was the coldest February on record, and five of the twelve months that year were below average, leaving the full year 1936 at just above the average temperature, demonstrating a dramatic swing from extreme cold to extreme heat within months. This swing placed tremendous stress on populations, infrastructure, and ecosystems, and the heat wave set many state and city record high temperatures that endured for generations, with many records standing until the 2012 North American heat wave. As of 2022, 13 U.S. state record high temperatures were still set in 1936, highlighting the event's severity and its lasting mark on climatic records.

The 1936 North American heat wave was one of the most severe heat waves in the modern history of North America. It took place in the middle of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s. 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 during this period. The 1930s are remembered as the driest and warmest decade for the United States.

Questions about 1936 North American heat wave

How many people died in the 1936 heat wave?

The 1936 North American heat wave caused more than 5,000 heat-related deaths across the continent. In Canada, the death toll was approximately 1,180 people, which includes 780 direct and 400 indirect fatalities. In the United States, nearly 5,000 people suffered from heat stroke and exhaustion, with significant mortality in major cities like Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis. The elderly were particularly vulnerable during this crisis due to the lack of cooling infrastructure and the intensity of the heat.

What was the highest temperature recorded during the heat wave?

The highest confirmed temperature was 121 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius). This extreme was recorded in Steele, North Dakota, on July 6, 1936, which remains the state's highest temperature on record. The same extreme of 121°F was also reached in Fredonia, Kansas, on July 18, 1936. Numerous other locations set all-time state or city records that stood for many decades after the event, demonstrating the unprecedented nature of the heat.

How did the heat wave affect Canada?

The heat wave severely affected central Canada, particularly Manitoba and Ontario, starting around July 5, 1936. Temperatures reached 43°C (109°F), tying previous records, and Ontario entered a severe drought. Areas from Hamilton to Niagara were described as a parched waste, and in Toronto, temperatures surpassed 40°C, leading to hundreds of deaths as residents sought relief near Lake Ontario. The overall Canadian death toll was around 1,180, making it one of the country's deadliest heat events.

Why was the heat wave so deadly?

The heat wave's deadliness resulted from a combination of extreme meteorological conditions and societal factors. It occurred during the Great Depression, a time of economic hardship, and air conditioning was not yet available in homes or most buildings, leaving no escape from the heat. High population density in urban areas like Chicago and Toronto concentrated the vulnerable populations, including the elderly. The heat also followed a very cold winter, which may have reduced people's acclimatization to extreme temperatures.

Did the heat wave break any long-standing records?

Yes, the 1936 heat wave set numerous long-standing temperature records. As of 2022, 13 U.S. state record high temperatures were still set in 1936. The summer of 1936 was the warmest on record in the United States from 1895 until it was surpassed in 2021. Many city records set in 1936 stood until the 2012 North American heat wave, and some endure to this day. The event is a benchmark for extreme heat in North American climatology and historical weather analysis.

What was the connection between the heat wave and the Dust Bowl?

The 1936 heat wave took place in the middle of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The 1930s are remembered as the driest and warmest decade for the United States. The summer of 1936 featured the most widespread and destructive heat wave to occur in the Americas in centuries. Droughts and heat waves were common in the 1930s.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.