–4668-5418 Blanchard range from State breakouts below.[1]

— ~5,000 NWS WFO, La Crosse WI. The Heatwave of July 1936. 10-7-2010.[2]

–4500-5000 Roe, Jason (Kansas City Public Library, MO. “Heat Wave” Accessed 9-24-2015.

— >5,000 Wikipedia. “1936 North American Heat Wave.” 8-7-2011 modification.[3]

— 4,678 AP. “Heat Can Be Uncomfortable…Perhaps Deadly.” The Progress. 7-9-1986, p. 2.

— 4,678 Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. Excessive Heat (code 191), p. 14.

— 4,600 AP. “Most of U.S. Cool…” Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 7-22-1936, p. 1.[4]

— 4,572 Mansfield News Journal, OH. “Rains Fail…Toll Set at 4,572 Lives.” 7-21-1936.

— >4,500 Fayetteville Democrat, AR. “Showers are Forecast for State Today.” 7-20-1936, 1.

— 4,470 Beatrice Daily Sun, NE. “Relief Come to Several Parched States.” 7-19-1936, 1.

— 4,400 Mason City Globe-Gazette, IA. “Death Toll for State 398…” 7-17-1936, p. 1.

— 4,380 Charleston Gazette, WV. “Torrid Weather Pulls Punches…” 7-18-1936, p. 1.

— 4,312 Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, IN. “Rain to Ease Indiana Heat…” 7-18-1936, p. 1.

— 4,200 Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, NY. “No Relief….Heat Deaths.” 7-17-1936, p. 1.

— 4,200 WI State Journal, Madison. “Hot? Try 100, 100, 104, 106, 107–in a row.” 7-15-1984, p. 1.

— 4,000 Oakland Tribune, CA. “Heat Wave Studied.” 7-24-1936, p. 48.

— 3,850 Pickard, E. W. “Current Events in Review.” Boyden Reporter, IA. 7-30-1936, p. 6.

Summary of Fatalities by State

Alabama ( 11) Kansas ( 117) North Dakota ( 48)

Arizona ( 45) Kentucky ( 144) Ohio ( 434)

Arkansas ( 43) Louisiana ( 4) Oklahoma ( 42-95)

California ( 49) Maine ( 4) Pennsylvania ( 86)

Colorado ( 2) Maryland ( 28) Rhode Island ( 1)

Connecticut ( 4) Michigan (570-617) South Carolina ( 19)

Delaware ( 5) Minnesota (454-772) South Dakota ( 30)

Florida ( 8) Missouri ( 644) Tennessee ( 41)

Georgia ( 21) Montana ( 5) Texas ( 97)

Idaho ( 2) Nebraska ( 60-72) Virginia ( 16)

Illinois ( 634) New Jersey ( 44) West Virginia ( 8)

Indiana ( 236) New York ( 82-117) Wisconsin (336-500)

Iowa (279-400) North Carolina ( 14) Wyoming ( 1)

Breakout of Fatalities by State (and Locality, where noted):

Alabama ( 11) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 139.

Arizona ( 45) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 139.

Arkansas ( 43) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 139.

— 1 Pulaski Co. Prison, July 18-19. Fayetteville Democrat, AR. “Sudden Death…” 7-20-1936, 1.

— 1 Ratcliff. July 18-19. Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “Sudden Death…” 7-20-1936, p. 1.

— 1 Springdale. July 18-19. Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “Sudden Death…” 7-20-1936, 1.

California ( 49) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 146.

–25 So. CA, Jul 1-24. Reno Evening Gazette, NV. “Heat Deaths Show Increase.” 7-24-1936, 1

Colorado ( 2) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 146.

Connecticut ( 4) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 146.

Delaware ( 5) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 147.

Florida ( 8) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 147.

Georgia ( 21) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 147.

Idaho ( 2) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 154.

Illinois ( 634)[5]

–1,193 State. Noji. The Public Health Consequences of Disasters. 1997, p. 250.

–1,193 “ Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. EM DAT Database.

— 634 “ Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 154.

— 495 “ by July 16. Hutchinson News, KS. “Watch Skies in Vain…” 7-16-1936, p. 1.

— 480 By July 14. AP. “Nation’s Death Toll Now Past 3,800.” Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, 7-16-1936, 1.

Breakout of Illinois heat-related deaths where we have noted reporting:

— 1 Alton, July. Alton Evening Telegraph, IL. “Only One Heat Death…Alton…” 7-31-1937.

— 5 Bloomington, July 11-12. Kemp. “Deadly 1936 heat wave…” 7-31-2011.

— 1 “ July 14. Kemp. “Deadly 1936 heat wave one for the records.” 7-31-2011.

— 1 Gridley, July 10. Kemp. “Deadly 1936 heat wave one for the records.” 7-31-2011.

— 1 Salem, July 24. Thomson Review, IL. “County Deaths.” July 30, 1936, p. 10.

— 50 Springfield. State Journal-Register, Springfield. “1936 heat wave…” 7-13-2011.

Indiana ( 236) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 154.

— 11 Logansport, July. Logansport Press, IN. “Relief…Hot Weather is due…” 7-29-1936, 1.

Iowa (279-400)

–400 State, by Jul 17. Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, NY. “No Relief in Sight….” 7-17-1936, 1

–398 “ by Jul 17. Mason City Globe-Gazette, IA. “Death Toll for State 398…” 7-17-1936, 1

–279 “ Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 155.

Kansas ( 117) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 155.

— 41 State, July 5-20. Emporia Gazette, KS. “Heat Kills Kansans.” 7-20-1936, 1.

Kentucky ( 144) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 155.

Louisiana ( 4) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 155.

Maine ( 4) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 162.

Maryland ( 28) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 162.

Massachusetts ( 4) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 163.

Michigan (570-617)

–617 State, July 4-19. Beatrice Daily Sun, NE. “Relief Comes to Several…States.” 7-19-1936, 1.

–570 “ July 8-14. Detroit News, MI. “Detroit’s Killer Heat Wave of 1936.” Aug 4, 1996.

–570 “ MI DSP, EM, HS Div. Michigan Hazard Mitigation Plan. “Significant Heat Waves…” 153.

–566 By July 14. AP. “Nation’s Death Toll Now Past 3,800.” Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, 7-16-1936, 1.

–559 State. By July 16. Hutchinson News, KS. “Watch Skies in Vain…” 7-16-1936, p. 1.

–453 State. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 163.

— 10 Detroit, July 8. Detroit News, MI. “Detroit’s Killer Heat Wave of 1936.” Aug 4, 1996.

— 63 “ July 12-13. Detroit News, MI. “Detroit’s Killer Heat Wave of 1936.” Aug 4, 1996.

–364 “ July 8-14. Detroit News, MI. “Detroit’s Killer Heat Wave of 1936.” Aug 4, 1996.

–364 “ 2^nd July week. MI DSP, EM, HS. MI Hazard Mit. Plan. “Significant Heat Waves…” 153.

Minnesota (454-772)

–772 July 4-19. Beatrice Daily Sun, NE. “Relief Comes to Several…States.” 7-19-1936, p. 1.

–741 By July 16. Hutchinson News, KS. “Watch Skies in Vain…” 7-16-1936, p. 1.

–707 By July 14. AP. “Nation’s Death Toll Now Past 3,800.” Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, 7-16-1936, 1.

–560 By Jul 13. Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “Hot Weather News.” July 18, 1936, p. 6.

–454 Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 163.

Mississippi ( 1) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 163.

Missouri ( 644)

–644 State. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 170.

–232 State. By July 14. AP. “Nation’s Death Toll Now Past 3,800.” Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, 7-16-1936, 1.

–479 St. Louis area, July-Aug. O’Neil. “A look back…heat wave of 1936…” 8-6-2011.

–479 “ Bernhard. “Stubbornness…St. Louis heat wave.” StL Post-Dispatch. 7-23-2012.

–332 “ By July 30. O’Neil. “A look back…heat wave of 1936…” 8-6-2011.

— 7 “ Aug 19. O’Neil. “A look back…heat wave of 1936…” 8-6-2011.

— 6 “ Aug 20. O’Neil. “A look back…heat wave of 1936…” 8-6-2011.

— 9 “ Aug 22. O’Neil. “A look back…heat wave of 1936…” 8-6-2011.

— 5 “ Aug 24. O’Neil. “A look back…heat wave of 1936…” 8-6-2011.

Montana ( 5) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 170.

–1 Dillon. Montana Standard, Butte. “Heat Prostration Kills Montanan.” 7-20-1936, p. 1.

Nebraska ( 60-72)

–72 By July 22. AP. “Most of U.S. Cool…” Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 7-22-1936, p1.

–60 State. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 170.

—>4 Gage county, by Jul 26. Beatrice Daily Sun, NB. “Mercury Hits 111…” 7-26-1936, p. 1.

Nevada ( 4) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 171.

New Jersey ( 44) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 171.

New York ( 82-117)

— 117 State, by July 13. Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “Hot Weather News.” 7-18-1936, p6.

— 82 State. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 171.

— 3 Batavia, July 8-14. Graczyk. “Hidden History…heat wave…1936.” Daily News, 7-27-2011.

–>100 NYC, May 9-mid July. Rahimi. “Next to 1936, ʹ05 Is No Sweat.” NY Times. 8-3-2005.

— 77 NYC, by July 13. Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “Hot Weather News.” 7-18-1936, p6.

North Carolina ( 14) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 178.

North Dakota ( 48) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 178.

Ohio ( 434)

–434 State. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 179.

–387 State, July 1-26. Lima News, OH. “Heat Mark Set Sunday Night.” July 27, 1936, p. 12.

–252 By July 14. AP. “Nation’s Death Toll Now Past 3,800.” Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, 7-16-1936, 1.

Oklahoma ( 42-95) especially July 13-Aug 20.

–95 July 13-Aug 20. Ada Evening News, OK. “Heat Wave Maintains…Grip…” 8-11-1936.

–85 July 13-28. Miami Daily News-Record, OK. “Two More Deaths.” July 28, 1936, p. 1.

–83 July. Ada Weekly News, OK. “Panhandle Gets Cooling Rains” July 30, 1936, p. 2.

–70 By July 22. AP. “Most of U.S. Cool…” Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 7-22-1936, p1.

–42 State. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 179.

— 7 Aug 9-11. Ada Evening News, OK. “Heat Wave Maintains…Grip…” 8-11-1936, p. 1.

Breakout of Oklahoma heat-related deaths by locality where we have noted reporting:

— 9 Claremore, July 21. Denton Record-Chronicle. “12…Deaths in Oklahoma Heat.” 7-21-1936.

— 2 Oklahoma City, July 21. Denton Record-Chronicle. “12…Deaths…Oklahoma…” 7-21-1936.

–24 Tulsa July 13-20. Mexia Weekly Herald, TX. “24 Fatalities in Tulsa Heat.” 7-24-1936, 12

–10 “ July 20. Mexia Weekly Herald, TX. “24 Fatalities in Tulsa Heat.” 7-24-1936, 12.

— 1 “ July 21. Denton Record-Chronicle. “12…Deaths in Oklahoma Heat.” 7-21-1936, 1.

Pennsylvania ( 86) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 179.

Rhode Island ( 1) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 186.

South Carolina ( 18) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 186.

South Dakota ( 30) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 187.

Tennessee ( 41) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 187.

Texas ( 97)

–97 State. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 187.

— 7 State, Aug 8-12. Galveston News, TX. “Texas…Heat Wave…Death Toll….” 8-12-1936, 1.

— 3 Dallas, Aug 11. Galveston News, TX. “Texas…Heat Wave…Death Toll….” 8-12-1936, 1.

— 1 Fort Worth, Aug 11. Galveston News. “Texas…Heat Wave…Death Toll….” 8-12-1936, 1.

— 1 Graford, Aug 11. Galveston News. “Texas…Heat Wave…Death Toll….” 8-12-1936, p. 1.

— 2 Waco, Aug 11. Galveston News, TX. “Texas…Heat Wave…Death Toll….” 8-12-1936, 1.

Virginia ( 16) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 194.

West Virginia ( 8) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 195.

Wisconsin (336-500)

–>500 WI State Journal, Madison. “Hot? Try 100, 100, 104, 106, 107–in a row.” 7-15-1984, p1.

— 469 State, July 4-19. Beatrice Daily Sun, NE. “Relief Comes to Several…States.” 7-19-1936, 1.

— 443 By July 14. AP. “Nation’s Death Toll Now Past 3,800.” Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign, 7-16-1936, 1.

— 336 State. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 195.

Breakout of Wisconsin heat fatalities by locality where we have seen reporting:

–56 Madison. WI State Journal, Madison. “Hot? Try 100, 100, 104, 106, 107–in a row.” 7-15-1984, p1.

Wyoming ( 1) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1936. “Table Six,” p. 195.

General Narrative Information

NWS La Crosse, WI Forecast Office: “The “Dust Bowl” years of 1930-36 brought some of the hottest summers on record to the United States, especially across the Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lake States. For the Upper Mississippi River Valley, the first few weeks of July 1936 provided the hottest temperatures of that period, including many all-time record highs…

“The string of hot, dry days was also deadly. Nationally, around 5000 deaths were associated with the heat wave.

“In La Crosse, WI, there were 14 consecutive days (July 5th-18th) where the high temperature was 90 degrees or greater, and 9 days that were at or above 100. Six record July temperatures set during this time still stand, including the hottest day on record with 108 on the 14th. The average high temperature for La Crosse during this stretch of extreme heat was 101.” (NWS Weather Forecast Office, La Crosse WI. “The Heatwave of July 1936.” 10-7-2010.)

July 13, AP: “Chicago, July 13. (AP) – Drought and record-shattering heat clung to the long suffering middle west and east in the northern half of the nation today as life-giving rains in portions of the northwest over the weekend which were expected to aid other afflicted sections ‘fizzled out’. Death from prostration and drowning mounted to at least 1,417 and crop destruction continued at a devastating pace with damage in excess of $300,000,000…” (Evening Tribune (Albert Lea MN). “Mercury Hits New Peaks…,” July 13, 1936.)

Wikipedia: “The 1936 North American heat wave was the most severe heat wave in the modern history of North America. It took place in the middle of the Great Depression of the 1930s, and caused catastrophic human suffering and an enormous economic toll. The death toll exceeded 5,000, and huge numbers of crops were destroyed by the heat and lack of moisture. Many state and city record high temperatures set during the 1936 heat wave still stand to this day. The heat wave followed one of the coldest winters on record.” (Wikipedia. “1936 North American Heat Wave.” Aug 7, 2011 modification.)

Illinois

Skilling on Chicago: “You wouldn’t know it from the city’s official record books, but for eight straight days in July 1936, Chicago suffered through a blistering triple-digit heat wave. The city was not alone, as scorching heat also gripped much of the Midwest and the Plains as the nation endured another hot, drought-plagued “Dust Bowl” summer. Ironically, the only Chicago locations escaping the string of 100s were close to Lake Michigan, which included the official thermometer site on the University of Chicago campus. Chicagoans flocked to the beaches to escape the heat, many sleeping there all night. Ice, still widely used for refrigeration, was in short supply, and food perished in the heat. The string of 100(degrees) days finally ended on July 15 with a high of 91(degrees), but on July 26 the mercury soared above 100(degrees) for the ninth time that month–a monthly record that has never been threatened. August produced two more 100s, bringing the summer’s total to 11, tying 1934 for the most triple-digit readings in a year at Midway.” (Skilling, Tom. “The big heat: 70^th anniversary of Chicago’s benchmark 1936 heat wave.” Chicago Tribune, 7-9-2006.)

July 13: “…75 years ago, summer 1936 was anything but normal for Springfield and the rest of the Midwest. Four of Springfield’s 10 hottest days ever came during July 1936, including a then-all-time high of 110 degrees on July 14. That record was broken on the same date in 1954, which registered a high of 112. The temperature reached triple digits on 29 days that year, including 12 consecutive days from July 4 through 14.

“50 deaths locally.

“The sweltering, dry days also were deadly. Approximately 5,000 deaths were associated with the heat nationally. Thirty people died in Springfield as a direct result of the heat, according to the climate summary for that month. The high temperatures contributed to another 20 deaths in the city….

“The heat set an all-time record for the Fourth of July when the thermometer reached 104.8 degrees at 3:30 p.m…On July 5, it reached a high of 102.8, and 3,400 people visited the Lake Springfield Beach to try and cool off. The next day, it was 102 again, and was still 98 degrees at 7 p.m….In addition to the 110-degree temperature recorded in Springfield, Pana had 110, Jacksonville 111, Havana 112 and Beardstown recorded 114 degrees…” (State Journal-Register, Springfield. “1936 heat wave…50 deaths…” 7-13-2011.)

July 17: “Chicago, July 17–A withering sun and a cloudless sky glared down for the 14^th continuous day in a heat-drought siege. Loss of human life still mounted. Crop damage, estimated at more than a billion dollars several days ago, rose. No general relief was sighted but the weather forecaster held out hope for the northern tier of Illinois, where cooler air and showers were predicted for tonight.” (Associated Press. “Heat Wave Continues in 14^th Day.” Carbondale Free Press, IL. 7-17-1936, p. 1.)

Iowa

July 17: “The death dealing heat wave advanced its human toll in Iowa Friday to 398 as it entered the third week of its relentless reign. Mason City’s temperature reached 105 degrees at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon after mounting to 101 well before noon. Relief from the sun’s baking rays continued remote and temperatures again climbed to the upper brackets which have been common since the hot spell began. It was the fifteenth successive day of 100 degree marks in the state.” (Mason City Globe-Gazette, IA. “Death Toll for State 398…” 7-17-1936, 1.)

Kansas

July 20: “By The Associated Press. Heat look a heavy toll in Kansas today, many deaths resulting from prostrations on Saturday, the hottest day in the state’s history. Twelve heat deaths and three drownings reported increased the I toll in the current heat and drought to 41. Many of the heat deaths reported today were overcome Saturday. Eight others died Saturday, making the toll the past three days 10 from heat and three from drowning.

“Winfield and Independence each had three deaths. At Winfield Ernest Briggs, 41, and Albert Manning, 68. inmates of the state training school, died at the institution. The third victim was William Horn, overcome at his rooming house. A fourth person overcome, Ed Sullivan, a bridge workman, was rushed to a hospital….” (Emporia Gazette, KS. “Heat Kills Kansans.” 7-20-1936, 1.)

Michigan

MI Gov: “July 1936 – Michigan. During the second week of July 1936, a terrible heat wave struck Michigan, and particularly Detroit, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees for up to seven days in a row (this varied by location—for example, Detroit had 7, West Branch and Alpena had 6, and Traverse City had 5). The temperature peaked at 112 degrees in Mio, setting a state record that still stands today. The extreme heat was an “equal opportunity” killer, causing many healthy adults to succumb to the heat at work or in the streets. Also, because most people relied on iceboxes to keep their food fresh, many heat-related deaths and illnesses occurred when the ice melted, causing the food to spoil. Statewide, 570 people died from heat-related causes, including 364 in Detroit. Nationally, the heat wave caused 5,000 deaths. Notice that these casualties disproportionately affected the large city of Detroit, and that Michigan was over-represented in terms of its population (11.4% of the national deaths were in Michigan).” (p. 153)

(Michigan Department of State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. Michigan Hazard Mitigation Plan, “Significant Heat Waves Affecting Michigan.” March 2014 updated ed. Accessed 7-23-2016 at: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp/MHMP_480451_7.pdf )

Minnesota

Cumberland News, 1987: “The 1936 heat wave climaxed five years of Dust Bowl, making it one of history’s most destructive. That half-decade of excruciating temperatures and drought killed nearly 15,000 people. It hit worst in Minnesota, where on some days, Minneapolis’s General Hospital took in three heat cases a minute.” Cumberland News, MD. “Heat Waves are Dangerous.” 8-21-1987, p. 8.)

Missouri

O’Neil: “St. Louis – The hot spell of July 1936 had been withering and deadly, reaching at least 100 degrees on 18 days. It killed 332 people by July 30, when cooling breezes soothed raw, sweating faces. Relief didn’t last. A drought that burned the Plains and Midwest restoked itself, pushing the temperature here back to 100 on Aug. 9. On 15 of the next 18 shimmering days, the high would be at least 100. It was 103 or hotter 11 times. On Aug. 18, it was 106.

“It was blazing enough to melt tar rooftops on brick homes and flats, which became too stifling for human endurance. Thousands fled to the city parks to sleep on grass. Others took refuge along quiet county roads, unrolling blankets in low spots in the hope of cooler mornings. People who could afford it took rooms in the few hotels with early cooled-air systems. Others rubbed ice on their temples and wrists for fleeting relief.

“St. Louisans thought they’d suffered enough in summer 1934, when temperatures reached at least 100 for 29 days and killed 420. The high that summer had been 111 degrees. Then along came summer 1936. It was worse, logging 37 days of triple-digit heat, still the worst ever in St. Louis. After all, it was the Dust Bowl era.

“By August, newspapers stopped finding ways to describe the heat and focused upon daily death lists — seven on Aug. 19, six more the next day, nine on Aug. 22, five more two days later.

“Hospitals filled hallways with extra beds for heat victims, who waited turns for dousings in ice-filled tubs. In the nursery of City Hospital No. 1, at 1515 Lafayette Avenue, dangerously hot infants were cooled by seven large fans blowing across stacks of block ice.

“Rainfall through July and August 1936 was 1.5 inches, one-fourth normal. Crops wilted; trees died at Shaw’s Botanical Garden. Farmers lined up with tanker trucks to buy water at 44 cents per 1,000 gallons for their livestock. For weeks, the Mississippi River barely had enough water for boat traffic.

“Then came the afternoon of Aug. 28 and dark, swirling clouds. Rarely has rain been more refreshing, or dearly bought. Heavy rain fell in Ferguson, Clayton and Pacific and forced an 18-minute delay in the Cardinals-Phillies game at Sportsman’s Park. But the big news was on the thermometer. After a high of 98 at 4 p.m., the temperature fell 17 degrees in one hour and, by 9 p.m., was 75. The next day’s high was only 82, although lingering effects killed four more people that day.

“The summer’s toll was 479 dead of heat, including 29 children.” (O’Neil, Tim. “A look back. Relentless, withering heat wave of 1936 killed 479 in St. Louis.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch.” 8-6-2011 and 7-30-2016.)

New York

Rahimi: “If you think it’s been unbearably hot this summer, don’t feel too sorry for yourself. True, the high yesterday was 92. But take a minute and be glad that it’s not 1936. That’s when New York City hit a record high of 106, during a heat wave that lasted several months. Listen to the details: you might even feel a little bit cooler.

“The heat wave prompted thousands of sweaty New Yorkers to flee their stifling apartments for spots on park benches or by the ocean at Coney Island and the Rockaways, where they slept at night….

“Across the country, more than 3,000 people were killed in the first 12 days of the hot spell, as the blazing sun sapped dry and scorched $1 billion in crops. The White House, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, doled out construction jobs and monthly loans of $20 to farmers, who had already been plagued by years of drought and an infestation of millions of grasshoppers. Fence posts and telephone poles in the Midwest were coated with the insects, which munched away crops and splattered across the windshields of fast-moving cars. As temperatures reached 100, their stiff, cooked bodies lined the streets of states like Montana, North and South Dakota and Nebraska….

“In Midtown, crosswalks softened by the heat were dotted with the rubber heels of women who had been caught in the blistered asphalt and tar. On upper Park Avenue, open fire hydrants made pools of water at least six inches deep. In New Jersey, a railroad station chef fried eggs on a pan heated by the sidewalk.

“A month into the 1936 heat wave, which hit New York City in May, hysteria erupted at a factory after 75 seamstresses fainted in the heat. Three of the five Harlem River bridges expanded, tying up car and boat traffic for hours. Concrete buckled on state roads in New Jersey, where the heat killed thousands of chickens and was blamed for a fire that drove 40 families into the street, pajama-clad and bleary-eyed.

“New York City’s previous record high, 104, was recorded in August 1918, but the only other time before 1936 that such high temperatures had persisted for days on end across the country was in July 1901, when 724 New Yorkers died from sunstroke. By contrast, fewer than 100 New Yorkers died in 1936, during a heat wave that began on May 9 and peaked two months later, at 106. The National Weather Service recorded 26 days that year with degrees of 90 or higher….”

(Rahimi, Shadi. “Next to 1936, ʹ05 Is No Sweat.” New York Times. 8-3-2005.)

Revkin: “The deadliest heat wave recorded in New York City occurred in July 1936, when the temperature in Central Park hit an all-time high of 106 degrees and 76 deaths were attributed to the heat. But 21 of the deaths were from drowning, as those who could not swim jumped into the rivers to cool off.” (New York Times/Andrew C. Revkin). “Heat Wave Toll Climbs to 27 Dead in New York City.” 7-10-1999.)

Oklahoma

July 28: “Cooling showers were forecast for hot and dry Oklahoma once more today after yesterday’s predicted precipitation simmered down to a few brisk rains in the Panhandle. Partly cloudy skies were reported in northwestern cities of Enid, Blackwell, Woodward, Ponca City and Beaver, but the temperature was rising at Enid, reaching an early high of 90 degrees. Wewoka reported an early morning high of 92 degrees. Skies were clear at Muskogee, which reported 90 degrees, but Ada and Guthrie reported partly cloudy. Cool breezes whipped the mercury down to a low of 69 at Shawnee after the official thermometer registered 103 yesterday.

“While drouth-hit Kansas was receiving beneficial rains yesterday, the best Oklahoma received were half-inch downpours in the Panhandle. Texhoma and Optima each received .50 of an inch, Elkhart, Kas., .25; Guymon, .15, and Goodwell, Optima, Tyrone and Boise City heavy showers.

“Alva reported the highest temperature yesterday, 112 degrees, while Woodward, Beaver and Enid reported 108.

“The emergency drouth relief committee announced estimates of Oklahoma’s drouth needs would be available within a week. An allocation will be made at Washington as soon as a count of needy farmers is completed, the committee said.

“Two more heat deaths were reported in Oklahoma today. Mrs. Sephronia Berryhill, 85, overcome by the heat a week ago, died at a Norman hospital. Heat also was blamed for the death of Mrs. Minnie J. Hasbrook, 57, at her Oklahoma City home today. The deaths brought to 85 the toll from an unprecedented heat wave which has gripped the state since July 13….” (Associated Press. “State Awaiting Its Turn as Rain Cools Midwest.” Miami Daily News-Record, OK, 7-28-1936, p. 1.)

Pennsylvania

July 11: “July 11, 1936. An unrelenting sun sent temperatures back toward the 100 mark throughout Pennsylvania again today while the heat wave death list increased to 31.” (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “On This Date…From The Progress Files….50 Years Ago.” 7-11-1986, p. 4.)

Wisconsin

Wisc. State Journal: “….Forty-eight years ago this week, Wisconsin was suffocating in what has to be the most devastating heat wave in state history. It hung on, essentially, for 50 days, from the first 90-plus day of July 6 to the last, Aug. 24. More than 500 deaths in the state, in rather inexact figuring from newspaper accounts, were attributed to effects of the heat.

“Sweat over these Madison statistics of daily high temperatures from those scorching July days:

July 6… 94 July 13… 106

July 7… 102 July 14 … 107

July 8… 99 July 15 … 93

July 9… 98 July 16… 94

July 10… 100 July 17… 98

July 11… 100 July 18… 91

July 12… 104

“The highest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin, 114 degrees, was marked in Wisconsin Dells on July 13, 1936. Eight Madison records are still on the list from that July, including the highest temperature ever for the city, 197, on July 14. Other records were set for July 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 17. The daytime high n Madison for 12 days did not fall below 93….From July 19 through Aug. 24 there were seven highs in the 90s, there were 24 in the 80s — mostly high 80s — three in the 70s and one at 101….

“The heat wave was national, but Wisconsin’s miseries were as bad or worse than those of any other state. By July 16, officially, the deaths of 461 Wisconsin residents had been attributed to the effects of the heat, including 56 in Madison. Included were numerous drownings of persons seeking refuge from the heat in lakes and ponds.

“There were 4,200 deaths reported nationally during the 11-day July siege, with fatalities concentrated in Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin.

“With most of the Wisconsin’s corn crop unsalvageable and 80 percent of the pastures and meadows burned out, Gov. Philip La Follett reportedly spent marathon sessions on the telephone, pleading with federal officials for immediate emergency relief. The already beleaguered farmers began to suffer heavy livestock fatalities, and nearly 40 percent of poultry died while being transported to market.

“Madison residents crowded into the Capitol Theater, now the Civic Center, which had a new cooling system. It was kept open all night as a refuge from the heat. Others sought those rare places that had the new-fangled air conditioning, such s a few hotel barrooms.

“Area dealers quickly sold out of electric fans, and auto parts dealers had no problem selling old radiators for homemade cooling systems.

“Thermometers exploded from the heat at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, and refrigerators burst into flames from overwork.

“La Follette authorized closing of state offices during the afternoons, and many businesses closed shop as well, allowing employees to escape the stifling heat of city buildings. It was not uncommon to see employees sneaking home with large fans ‘borrowed’ from their offices….

“The Madison Water Department broke all pumping records as thirsty residents were asked to cooperate in limiting their water consumption. Employees of the Milwaukee courthouse were asked to limit their drinking water intake to two cups per day.” (Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Hot? Try 100, 100, 104, 106, 107 — in a row.” 7-15-1984, p. 1.)

Sources

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Additional Reading

Hutchison, Phillip J. “Journalism and the Perfect Heat Wave: Assessing the Reportage of North America’s Worst Heat Wave, July-August 1936.” American Journalism, Vol. 25, No. 1, Winter 2008. pp. 31-54.

[1] Though our tally is 4,668-5,418, we use the Census number 4,678 as the minimum — not all death certificates accessed by the Bureau would have been coded as excessive heat. For example, many babies die from heat, but not all their deaths would be recorded as such. Additionally, many elderly succumb during and after a heat wave, for which the heatwave would have been an exacerbating factor, if not the direct (though unrecorded) actual cause of death. Though the high end of the range of 5,418 deaths is higher than the 5,000 reported by the NWS, we still think it has merit. It is based on reporting at the time and later. For example the State of MI records 570 heat deaths in MI in 1936, whereas the Census records 453. The Census records 634 deaths for IL. Noji, looking at excess deaths, shows 1,193 (though we do not use this number ourselves, in that we look at counts, not statistical spikes.)

[2] “Nationally, around 5000 deaths were associated with the heat wave.”

[3] “The death toll exceeded 5,000, and huge numbers of crops were destroyed by the heat and lack of moisture.”

[4] “The national toll of heat deaths advanced to nearly 4,600 during the day, with Oklahoma contributing to bring its total to 70. Nebraska’s total climbed to 62.”

[5] While the number 1,193 noted by Noji and by the Centre for Research is a specific number which does not appear to be a rounding or estimate, we still choose to rely on the Bureau of the Census number of 634. We speculate that Noji or the Centre for Research followed the other and that the number is based on “excess deaths,” or deaths over and above those that would be anticipated. Additionally, the Census number is closer to the press reporting we see.

1936 — July-Aug (esp.), Heat, esp. MN/772, MO/644, IL/634, MI/617, WI/500 –4,678-5,418