1954 — Heat (esp. July), esp. MO/235, OK/178, KS/139, TX/95, IL/50, GA/39 –978-984
–978-984 Blanchard tally based on PHS Vital Statistics 1954 supplemented by press reports.[1]
–4,678 Lesher, David. “Western Maryland Weather.” Frederick Post, MD. 7-25-1988, B-6.[2]
— 978 AP. “Heat Can Be Uncomfortable, Costly…Deadly.” The Progress, Clearfield, PA. 7-9-1986, p. 2.
— 978 Public Health Svc. Vital Statistics…1954, V. II, Mortality Data. Table 47, code E931, 31
— >300 July 12-24. Westcott and Grady. “Impacts of the 1954 Summer Heat Wave.” p. 2 of 7.
— >300 July 1-22. AP. “2 Cool Fronts Hit North U.S.” East Liverpool Review, OH, 7-22-1954, 1.
— 237 By July 18. AP. “Heat Wave Death Toll Soars to 237.” 7-29-1954.[3]
PHS: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec[4]
0 2 1 3 4 106 758 79 20 3 2 0
Age[5] PHS. Vital Statistics 1954.
<5 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64
70 2 0 5 10 12 25 29 48 50 75 53 67
65-69 70-74 75-99 80-84 85-89 90-94 95-99 100 and over not stated (PHS. 1954.)
72 94 122 103 86 42 8 2 3
Summary of 1954 Heat and Heat-Related Deaths by State
Alabama ( 10) Kentucky ( 10) New York ( 8)
Arizona ( 7) Louisiana ( 8) North Carolina ( 8)
Arkansas ( 24) Maryland ( 3) Ohio ( 9)
California ( 27) Massachusetts ( 2) Oklahoma (178)
Colorado (3-4) Michigan ( 8) Oregon ( 1)
Connecticut ( 1) Minnesota ( 3) Pennsylvania ( 11)
District of Columbia ( 4) Mississippi ( 8) South Carolina ( 4)
Florida ( 3) Missouri (235) South Dakota ( 1)
Georgia ( 39) Montana ( 1) Tennessee ( 12)
Idaho ( 1) Nebraska ( 12) Texas ( 95)
Illinois ( 50) Nevada ( 1) Utah ( 1)
Indiana ( 13) New Hampshire ( 2) Virginia ( 8)
Iowa ( 15) New Jersey ( 3) West Virginia (2-4)
Kansas (139) New Mexico ( 2) Wyoming ( 1)
Breakout of Heat and Related Fatalities by State
Alabama ( 10)
–10 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 102.
Arizona ( 7)
–7 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 103.
Arkansas ( 24)
–24 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 103.
— 3 Fort Smith, July 18. Temperature reached 108 degrees.[6]
California ( 27)
–27 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 103.
— 3 Southern CA, July 18. Temperatures reached more than 100 degrees.[7]
Colorado (3-4)
–4 AP. “Heat-Storm Death Total Reaches 190.” Circleville Herald, OH. 7-16-1954, p. 1.
–3 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 103.
Connecticut ( 1)
–1 AP. “Heat-Storm Death Total Reaches 190.” Circleville Herald, OH. 7-16-1954, p. 1
District of Columbia ( 4)
–4 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 111.
Florida ( 3)
–3 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 111.
Georgia ( 39)
–39 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 111.
Idaho ( 1)
–1 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 111.
Illinois ( 50)
–50 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 118.
Indiana ( 13)
–13 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 118.
Iowa ( 15)
–15 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 119.
Kansas (139)
–139 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 119.
— 47 By July 18. Westcott and Grady. “Impacts of the 1954 Summer Heat Wave.” p. 2 of 7.
Kentucky ( 10)
–10 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 119.
Louisiana ( 8)
–8 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 119.
Maryland ( 3)
–3 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 126.
Massachusetts ( 2)
–2 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 127.
Michigan ( 8)
–8 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 127.
Minnesota ( 3)
–3 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 127.
Mississippi ( 8)
–8 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 127.
Missouri (235)
–235 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 134.
–137 By July 18. Westcott and Grady. “Impacts of the 1954 Summer Heat Wave.” p. 2 of 7.
–129 By July 21. AP. “Canadian Air Mass Helps Missourians Breathe Easier.”[8]
–108 St. Louis, July 12-24. Westcott/Grady. “Impacts of the 1954 Summer Heat Wave.” 2 of 7.
Montana ( 1)
–1 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 134.
Nebraska ( 12)
–12 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 135.
Nevada ( 1)
–1 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 135.
New Jersey ( 3)
–3 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 135.
New Mexico ( 2)
–2 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 142.
New York ( 8)
–8 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 142.
North Carolina ( 8)
–8 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 143.
Ohio ( 9)
–9 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 143.
Oklahoma (178)
–178 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 143.
— 74 July 1-23. AP. “Cold Front, Rain Break Heat Wave Temporarily.” Lawton Constitution, OK. 7-23-1954, 1.
— 5 July 18. AP. “Middlewest To Swelter Some More.” Athens Messenger, OH. 7-19-1954, 1.
— 1 Tulsa, July 22. George William Sellman. AP. “Cold Front…” Lawton Constitution, 7-23-1954.
— 1 Vinita, Eastern State Hospital, July 22. James Monroe, 46. AP. “Cold Front…” 7-23-1954.
— 1 Vinita, Eastern State Hospital, July 22. Unidentified patient. AP. “Cold Front…” 7-23-1954.
— 1 Vinita rest home, July 22. George Whittenburg, 80, of Ketchum. AP. “Cold Front…” 7-23-1954.
— 1 Welch area farm home, July 22. Charles Davis, 81. AP. “Cold Front…” 7-23-1954, p. 1.
Oregon ( 1)
–1 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 150.
Pennsylvania ( 11)
–11 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 150.
South Carolina ( 4)
–4 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 151.
South Dakota ( 1)
–1 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 151.
Tennessee ( 12)
–12 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 151.
Texas ( 95)
–95 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 158.
Utah ( 1)
–1 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 158.
Virginia ( 8)
–8 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 159.
West Virginia (2-4)
–4 AP. “Heat-Storm Death Total Reaches 190.” Circleville Herald, OH. 7-16-1954, p. 1.)
–2 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 159.
Wyoming ( 1)
–1 US PHS. Vital Statistics 1954, V. II, Table 51 “Deaths…256 Selected Causes…” p. 163.
Narrative Information
Associated Press: “…according to government weather records…the toll was also high in…1954 with 978.” (Associated Press, Washington. “Heat Can Be Uncomfortable, Costly, Perhaps Deadly.” The Progress, Clearfield, PA. 7-9-1986, p. 2.)
Lesher: “….Extraordinarily hot summers have produced death tolls such as 1,401 in 1942, 4,678 in 1954 and more than 10,000 in 1901.” (Lesher, David. “Western Maryland Weather.” Frederick Post, MD. 7-25-1988, B-6.)
Westcott and Grady: “The highest recorded temperature in Illinois, 117⁰F (47.2ºC) occurred on 14 July 1954 in East St. Louis, IL. This occurred in the midst of a widespread, long-lasting heat wave covering significant parts of 11 states: from eastern Colorado through Kansas, Oklahoma, part of Texas, Missouri and Arkansas, southern Illinois, and extending to the southeast to western Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and parts of the Carolinas. According to Climate Division data, this ranked at one of the top five extended periods of heat in these states since 1895. At the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, temperatures of at least 100ºF (37.8ºC) were observed on 22 days from the last week in June through the first week of September 1954. The average number of 100ºF (37.8ºC) days is three at this site, based on the period of record, 1930 – 2009. Temperatures ≥ 95ºF (35ºC) occurred on 51 days (normal 14 days) and ≥ 90ºF (32.2ºC) on 79 days (normal 40 days). Similarly, at Olathe, KS (near Kansas City, MO), there were 31 days of at least 100ºF (37.8ºC, normal 5 days), 52 days with temperatures of 95ºF (35ºC) or more (normal, 17 days), and 80 days with temperatures of 90ºF (32.2ºC) or more (normal 41 days). The Olathe normals are based on the 1891-2008 period. Only 1913, 1918, 1934, and 1936 had more 100ºF (37.8ºC) days at Olathe. In the central Midwest, such widespread extended periods of extreme temperatures have not been observed since the 1950s, although ≥ 10 100ºF (37.8ºC) days, ≥ 30 95ºF (35ºC) and ≥ 60 90ºF (32.2ºC) days were observed in 1980, 1983 and 1988 at St. Louis.
“1954 was the third consecutive year with high summer temperatures in this region. Record temperatures set in the mid-1930s were broken….” (Westcott and Grady. “Impacts of the 1954 Summer Heat Wave.” 18th AMS Conference on Applied Climatology…Jan 18-21, 2010; p. 2 of 7.
Newspaper Sampling (Chronological)
July 4: “…Fair, hot weather over much of the country swelled the motorists’ ranks, a 100-degree heat wave baked the Southeast from the Mississippi River into Alabama, it was almost as hot in parts of the Southwest and 90 degree readings were common from the Rockies to the Appalachians and as far north as northern Illinois…” (United Press. “Traffic Fatalities Beginning to Mount.” Bonham Daily Favorite, TX. 7-4-1954, p. 1.)
July 12: “The temperature was off at the crack of dawn today, heading for 90 degrees. This noon, it looked as though it would make it with a couple of degrees to spare. The 12 o’clock reading at the airport was 87, and it wasn’t getting any cooler in the early afternoon hours….The heat wave is expected to peter out a bit Tuesday [13th].” (Stevens Point Daily Journal, WI. “Weatherman Sets Sights on 90 Degrees.” 7-12-1954, p. 1.)
July 12: “Hot weather with temperatures in the 90s in all portions of the state [WI] followed the arrival in Wisconsin today of a surge of blistering air moving out of the Rocky mountains.
“Elsewhere in the nation, temperatures of 100 and higher were registered Sunday in a wide area extending from Texas through Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. And the heat wave for the areas will continue today and Tuesday, according to the weather bureau.” (Associated Press. “Warm Spell Extends Over Broad Area.” Stevens Point Daily Journal, WI. 7-12-1954, p. 1.)
July 13: “The biggest heat wave so far this summer baked central sections of the nation today. At least eight deaths were attributed to the heat.
“The mercury zoomed to an unofficial 121 degrees in Pittsburgh, Kans., yesterday and plus-100-degree readings were common from the Rockies eastward to the Great Lakes.
“Racine, which reported an official 95 on Monday, obtained some relief today when the morning breezes shifted to the north.
“In Kansas City, where the temperature reached 109, so many people turned on their ir conditioners that power lines became overloaded. The Kansas City Power and Light Co. said power use hit an all-time high last night.
“Midwest City, an Oklahoma City suburb of 20,000 ran out of water as 107-degree heat lead to record consumption. Officials said shortages will occur daily as long as the heat continues.
“These all-time high heat records were set yesterday [12th]: Columbia, Mo., 113; Springfield, Mo., 108; Rapid City, S.D., 109; Dallas, Tex., 110.3; Oklahoma City, 107…Casper, Wyo., 104.
“The temperature reached 90 or above in all states except a strip along the Atlantic coast from the Carolinas to New England and in the northwest over Washington.
“The hottest spot in Wisconsin was Madison with 96. Milwaukee had 95 and five persons there were hospitalized with heat-induced collapse. Other readings, as the heat belt spanned the south portion of the state: Beloit-Rockford, 94; Lone Rock, 93; Green Bay, 91; LaCrosse and Two Rivers, 89; Eau Claire and Wausau, 87; Grantsburg, 86 and Park Falls, 85. And then there was Superior with a high of 83.” (Racine Journal-Times, WI. “A Severe Heat Wave Bakes Central States.” 7-13-1954, p. 1.)
July 14: “The most savage heat wave of the summer burned into its third day today, but it showed signs of weakening at the edges. The U.S. Weather Bureau said cool Canadian and Pacific air would completely envelop the Midwest by tonight. Temperatures fell a few degrees in the blazing Southwest. However, no real relief was expected for the nation’s southern half. Forecasters gloomily predicted more 100-degree scorchers and fallen heat records.
“The heat has been blamed for at least five deaths in the last three days. Scores of persons have collapsed — 28 in St. Louis, Mo., alone.
“Weather bureaus throughout the country continued to report new heat records. All time highs were set Tuesday at Tulsa, Okla., with 111 degrees, and at Springfield, Mo., with 108. Three Kansas cities — Chanute, Olathe and Emporia — suffered 114 degree scorchers.” (United Press. “First Break in Heat Wave Due Tonight.” Daily Telegram, Eau Claire, WI. 7-14-1954, p. 1.)
July 15: “Violent storms in the East and an expanding cool front in the midwest partially cracked the season’s worst heat wave as the death toll from more than a week of scorching temperatures neared the 100 mark….
“The mercury hit a sizzling 120 degrees at Fort Scott, Kan., before the cooler air began moving into that state. Temperatures of 100 degrees or higher were common from Kansas, Oklahoma and northern Texas eastward to the Atlantic. Thousands of baby chicks died from the heat in Arkansas. The Arkansas Poultry Federation said the state’s poultry Federation said the state’s poultry industry may suffer its worst baby-chick shortage in history.
“Volunteers responded to an appeal to help save the lives of feeble-minded patients at the state training school in Winfield, Kan. Some Mongolian-type patients are supersensitive to the heat because of deficiency in a gland that acts as a sort of thermostat in the body. They had to be packed in ice or otherwise externally cooled. Eleven patients have died in Kansas mental institutions this week….
“An automatic sprinkler system went into action in a suburban St. Louis can factory when the temperature reached 165 degrees in the firm’s attic. Workers were drenched and the office was flooded.
“Missouri had 29 fatalities; Oklahoma, 18; Kansas, 18; Illinois, 8, Kentucky, 5; Colorado, 4; and Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, 1 each.
“These all-time high temperatures were recorded: St. Louis, 112; Springfield, Ill., 114; Columbia, Mo., 113; Springfield, Mo., 113; and Tulsa, Okla., 112.
“Other high readings included Philadelphia, 101; Washington, D.C., 100, Huntington, W.Va., 105; Richmond, Va., 103; Baltimore, 101; Newark, N.J., 101; Terre Haute, Ind., 107; Columbus, Ohio, 104; Arkansas City, Kan., 118; Mexico, Mo., 116; and Kansas City, 110….” (Associated Press. “Toll Nears 100 As Heat Eases.” Racine Journal-Times, WI. 7-15-1954, p. 12.)
July 16: “Chicago (AP) — The death toll from heat and storms rose to 190 today as cool northerly winds routed the season’s severest heat wave in most parts of the country. The cooler air extended from Kansas and Oklahoma eastward over Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio to the North Atlantic coastal states. Daytime temperatures in that area yesterday were 10 to 25 degrees cooler than on the preceding day.
“Temperatures in the 90s and 100s still covered most of the southern half of the nation, with Little Rock, Ark., recording 107. Fort Worth, Tex., reported 102. But the temperature reached a high yesterday of only 92 in St. Louis compared with 113 the preceding day. More than a week of scorching heat was blamed for 46 deaths in St. Louis. Kansas City fell from a high of 112 Wednesday to 93 and New York City from 99 to 84.
“Missouri was hardest hit by the heat wave, counting 60 deaths, Oklahoma had 44; Kansas, 34; Illinois, 11; Kentucky, 8; Pennsylvania, 5; Ohio, 5; Colorado, 4; West Virginia, 4; Arkansas, 3; New Hampshire, 2: Nebraska, 2; Massachusetts, 2; New York, 2; Indiana, Louisiana, Connecticut, Virginia, Tennessee and Maryland 1 each.” (Associated Press. “Heat-Storm Death Total Reaches 190.” Circleville Herald, OH. 7-16-1954, p. 1.)
July 19: “Hot weather continued at full boil in the nation’s middle section today after a brief period of simmer lat last week. There was little relief in sight.
“The toll of the extended heat wave, which had only a brief respites, had reached 237 lives yesterday [18th] when temperatures from central Texas and northern Louisiana to southwestern North Dakota climbed generally into 100-plus figures.
“Scattered thunderstorms tempered the heat in the Ohio Valley and near the Canadian border, but west and south of those sections temperatures matched or exceeded the normal summer extremes of the adjoining desert Southwest.
“Sunday deaths attributable to the heat included three at Fort Smith, Ark., where the mercury mounted to 108; three in southern California, where readings ranged up to more than 100 in the San Joaquin Valley; and five in Oklahoma which had such steaming weathr as Oklahoma City’s 105 and Tulsa’s 110.
“The day’s peak was 116 at Fort Scott, Kan. Chanute in the same state had 113, and in adjoining Missouri it was 111 at Kansas City, 112 at t. Louis. Other samplings in the heat belt included 106 at Quincy, Ill., and Presidio, Texas; 104 at Memphis; 101 at Indianapolis; 100 at Omaha, Rapid City, S.D., and Dickinson, N.D….” (Associated Press. “Middlewest To Swelter Some More.” Athens Messenger, OH. 7-19-1954, p. 1.)
July 20: “A lethal heat wave kept its burning grip on the nation’s mid-section today, claiming at least 22 new lives and threatening farmers with disaster. The heat wave, the worst in years, has caused at least 246 deaths since it spread across the nation last week.
“The U.S. Weather Bureau said the temperature would shoot again into the 100’s today in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and southeast South Dakota. High temperatures Monday included 109 at Kansas City, Mo., 105 at St. Louis, Mo., 108 at Ponca City, Okla., and 107 at Presidio, Tex., and Omaha, Neb….
“Agriculture experts predicted ‘100 per cent loss’ of corn crops in some western, central and southern Illinois counties and the federal Farmer’s Loan Administration launched a survey to see how many emergency loans will be needed in the state.” (Defiance Crescent-News, OH. “Death Toll 246 From Heat Wave.” 7-20-1954, p. 1.)
July 21, MO: “Kansas City (AP) — Missourians breathed more comfortably early today thanks to their inclusion in a cool Canadian air mass accompanied by widely scattered thundershowers. Continued relief from the heat wave that has roasted the state for almost a month is promised in a Kansas City weather bureau forecast. The forecast calls for considerable cloudiness in the north and partly cloudy south late today and tonight with scattered thundershowers north and isolated showers south tonight and again Thursday [22nd].
“Kirksville, in the northeast section, enjoyed a comfortable 72 degree reading early this morning. Other Lows included: Farmington and Columbia 74; Kansas City, West Plains, Rolla, St. Joseph, Butler and Malden, 76; Springfield 79, and Joplin 83….Highs tomorrow are likely to range from the 80s northeast to 100 in the extreme southwest.
“Brookfield reported a high for the state of 110 yesterday, followed by Kansas City, 106, St. Louis, 105; Butler, 105; Columbia, 105; St. Joseph 104; Kirksville, 103; Joplin, 103; Vichy, 101; Springfield, 98, and West Plains, 98.
“The death toll from heat totals 29 for the week and 116 since the beginning of the wave….” (Associated Press. “Canadian Air Mass Helps Missourians Breathe Easier.” Daily Sikeston Standard, MO. 7-21-1954, p. 1.)
July 22: “Two separate cool fronts advanced across the northern half of the nation Thursday [22nd] depressing the July heat wave mostly to the Southern Plains states. One area of cool air stretched from the Pacific Northwest across the Rockies and the other extended from the Great Lakes, southward to the Ohio Valley and eastward to New England.
“The northern edge of the swelter-belt extended from Virginia across Kentucky and southern Illinois northwestward into the Dakotas. Daytime temperatures in the hot area were 90 and above with 100 plus readings in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.
“The July heat wave, which has caused more than 300 deaths across the nation, has been centered principally in the Southern and Central Plains.
“The temperature drops in 24 hours ranged from 20 to 37 degrees over parts of Montana. Havre, Mont., had a high of 64 compared with 101 the preceding day….
“Temperatures early today ranged from the 50s and 60s along the Canadian border to the 70s and 80s in the South.” (AP. “2 Cool Fronts Hit North U.S.” East Liverpool Review, OH, 7-22-1954, 1.)
July 23, OK: “The long-awaited cold front bringing a temporary break in the searing three-week-old Oklahoma heat wave moved slowly through the state today, touching off cooling showers and thunderstorms as it headed southeast….The front was expected to keep temperatures below 100 degrees over most of Oklahoma for the first time this month. The prospect for a breather from the disastrous heat came as Oklahoma recorded five more heat prostration fatalities, four in the Vinita area — the hottest in the state yesterday at 111 degrees and one at Tulsa. The heat toll moved to 74 for the month. Victims were James Monroe Little, 46, patient at Eastern State Hospital, Vinita, an unidentified patient at the institution; Charles Davis, 81, who died at his farm home near Welch; George Whittenburg, 80, Ketchum, who died in a Vinita rest home and George William Sellman, 28, Tulsa.” (Associated Press. “Cold Front, Rain Break Heat Wave Temporarily.” Lawton Constitution, OK. 7-23-1954, p. 1.)
July 28: “A marathon heat wave burned with renewed fierceness in the nation’s midsection today, claiming new acres of seared crops with every day it lasted. The baking heat moved out of its Southwest stronghold Tuesday to scorch the Midwest again. Farm officials from Illinois to Oklahoma repeated warnings that rain is urgently needed. The U.S. Weather Bureau offered little hope of relief. An extended forecast covering the next four days predicted temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal in the Midwest.
“The mercury went over 100 in 23 Texas cities Tuesday, setting all time records of 110 and 109 at Del Rio and Laredo, respectively. At Hobart, Okla., it was 102, while Thremal, Calif., became the nation’s hottest town with 115. In Chicago the thermometer registered over 90 for the 10th day this month and the 92 at Los Angeles tied a 68-year-old record.
“Water was so scarce at Sapulpa, Okla., that firemen couldn’t put out a $300,000 fire in four downtown buildings until telephone operators called hundreds of homes and persuaded residents to turn off their lawn sprinklers.” (United Press. “Heat Wave Burns Fiercely Anew.” Defiance Crescent-News, OH. 7-28-1954, p. 2.)
July 29: “The nation’s middle and southern areas, already crisp from 12 days of roasting with little letup, weathered familiar even temperatures again today, and things were getting warmer in the East. There was a breath of cooler air in the Great Lakes region, and near the Canadian border in northeastern Montana and northwestern North Dakota.
“As temperatures climbed on the Atlantic seaboard, weather bureau reported that the nighttime minimums had ranged from two to 11 degrees higher than in the early hours of Sunday. But the mercury remained above 100 degrees over much of the plains, the Midwest, and interior Southwest areas. Kansas City got no cooler than 85 degrees during the night.
“A federal crop official said that another week of blistering heat might cause serious corn damage in Illinois.
“The toll of the extended heat wave, which had only a brief respite, had reached 237 lives Sunday [28th] when temperatures from central Texas and northern Louisiana to southwestern North Dakota climbed generally into 100-plus figures.
“Sunday’s peak was 116 at Fort Scott, Kas. Chanute in the same state had 113, and in adjoining Missouri it was 111 at Kansas City, 112 at St. Louis. Other samplings in the heat belt Sunday included 106 at Quincy, Ill., and Presidio, Texas; 104 at Memphis; 101 at Indianapolis; 100 at Omaha, Rapid City, S.D. and Dickinson, N.D.” (Associated Press. “Heat Wave Death Toll Soars to 237.” Arkansas City Daily Traveler, AR, 7-29-1954, p. 1.)
July 30, CA: “Los Angeles (AP) — Sweltering residents of Los Angeles who have watched records fall as temperatures rose can expect more of the same today, an expected high of 92. Yesterday’s top of 93 made it the hottest July 29 on record. The previous high for July 29 was 92 in 1889 and 1947.” (Associated Press. “Los Angeles Heat Wave Hits Record High of 92.” Lawton Constitution, OK. 7-30-1954, p. B-2.)
Aug 18, MO: “Temperatures near 105 under fair skies are forecast for southwest Missouri today. Clear skies and a hot sun yesterday [Aug 17] sent the mercury soaring from a morning low of 82 to the day’s high of 102. It was the fourth straight day the temperatures had reached to 100-degree mark. A high of 104 was recorded at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. at the CAA Weather station at Joplin Municipal airport. The mercury in Joplin a year ago today ranged between 84 and 69.” (Joplin Globe, MO. “Blistering Heat Wave to Continue.” 8-18-1954, p. 1.)
Sep 6, OH: “The Weather Bureau said new temperature records were established in the current Ohio heat wave again Monday afternoon [Sep 6]. Dayton registered a high of 101, the highest ever observed there so late in the summer season. Cincinnati matched Dayton with another high of 101, and Chesapeake had 100. Cleveland equaled its all-time mark with a late season high of 98. At Columbus, the highest was 99, falling one degree short of the all time high for the month of September….The heat at Columbus, Ohio, broke a 73-year-old record for the day with 99 degrees, while Pittsburgh, went through its third straight day of 94 or better, and a fourth was expected….” (United Press. “Heat Wave Sets Records For Late Summer in Ohio.” Coshocton Tribune, OH, 9-7-1954, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “2 Cool Fronts Hit North U.S.” East Liverpool Review, OH, 7-22-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-21-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/east-liverpool-review-jul-22-1954-p-1/
Associated Press. “Canadian Air Mass Helps Missourians Breathe Easier.” Daily Sikeston Standard, MO. 7-21-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-20-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sikeston-daily-standard-jul-21-1954-p-10/
Associated Press. “Cold Front, Rain Break Heat Wave Temporarily.” Lawton Constitution, OK. 7-23-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-21-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lawton-constitution-jul-23-1954-p-1/
Associated Press, Washington. “Heat Can Be Uncomfortable, Costly, Perhaps Deadly.” The Progress, Clearfield, PA. 7-9-1986, p. 2. Accessed 1-3-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/clearfield/clearfield-progress/1986/07-09/page-2?tag
Associated Press. “Heat Wave Death Toll Soars to 237.” Arkansas City Daily Traveler, AR, 7-29-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-21-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/arkansas-city-traveler-jul-19-1954-p-1/
Associated Press. “Heat-Storm Death Total Reaches 190.” Circleville Herald, OH. 7-16-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-22-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/circleville-herald-jul-16-1954-p-2/
Associated Press. “Los Angeles Heat Wave Hits Record High of 92.” Lawton Constitution, OK. 7-30-1954, p. B-2. Accessed 6-21-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lawton-constitution-jul-30-1954-p-16/
Associated Press. “Middlewest To Swelter Some More.” Athens Messenger, OH. 7-19-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-21-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/athens-messenger-jul-19-1954-p-1/
Associated Press. “Toll Nears 100 As Heat Eases.” Racine Journal-Times, WI. 7-15-1954, p. 12. Accessed 6-22-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/racine-journal-times-jul-15-1954-p-12/
Associated Press. “Warm Spell Extends Over Broad Area.” Stevens Point Daily Journal, WI. 7-12-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-22-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/stevens-point-daily-journal-jul-12-1954-p-1/
Defiance Crescent-News, OH. “Death Toll 246 From Heat Wave.” 7-20-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-21-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/defiance-crescent-news-jul-20-1954-p-1/
Joplin Globe, MO. “Blistering Heat Wave to Continue.” 8-18-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-20-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe-aug-18-1954-p-1/
Lesher, David. “Western Maryland Weather.” Frederick Post, MD. 7-25-1988, B-6. Accessed 6-18-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/frederick-news-post-jul-25-1988-p-25/
Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Vital Statistics of the United States 1954, Volume II, Mortality Data. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1956. Accessed 6-18-2019 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/VSUS_1954_2.pdf
Racine Journal-Times, WI. “A Severe Heat Wave Bakes Central States.” 7-13-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-22-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/racine-journal-times-jul-13-1954-p-1/
Stevens Point Daily Journal, WI. “Weatherman Sets Sights on 90 Degrees.” 7-12-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-22-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/stevens-point-daily-journal-jul-12-1954-p-1/
United Press. “First Break in Heat Wave Due Tonight.” Daily Telegram, Eau Claire, WI. 7-14-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-22-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-telegram-jul-14-1954-p-1/
United Press. “Heat Wave Burns Fiercely Anew.” Defiance Crescent-News, OH. 7-28-1954, p. 2. Accessed 6-21-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/defiance-crescent-news-jul-28-1954-p-2/
United Press. “Traffic Fatalities Beginning to Mount.” Bonham Daily Favorite, TX. 7-4-1954, p. 1. Accessed 6-22-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bonham-daily-favorite-jul-04-1954-p-1/
Westcott, Nancy, and Kevin Grady. “Impacts of the 1954 Summer Heat Wave.” 18th AMS Conference on Applied Climatology, Atlanta GA, Jan 18-21, 2010. Accessed 6-18-2019 at: https://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/164354.pdf
[1] The reason we are willing to entertain press reports of heat fatalities in the few instances such reporting was higher than the Public Health Service reported is that the Vital Statistics document is based upon reporting from States which in turn base their statistics on death certificates and the cause of death noted on the death certificate. The code used by the PHS for Excessive Heat (E391), was not universally applied by the various doctors and coroners who typically filled out death certificates. Results as well as ultimate causes could be coded. Thus organ failure or dehydration deaths due to excessive heat could be coded for organ failure or dehydration rather than excessive heat.
[2] We do not use in that we cannot substantiate. Lesher cites no source. Neither the Public Health Service numbers nor press reporting on death tolls at the time give any support for such a number — specific though it is.
[3] Arkansas City Daily Traveler, KS. P. 1.
[4] From Table 48, line 36 (p. 41). “Deaths From 256 Selected Causes, by Month: United States, 1954–Continued.”
[5] From Table 50 (pp. 92-93). “Deaths From 256 Selected Causes, by Age, Race, and Sex: [US], 1954–Continued.”
[6] Associated Press. “Middlewest To Swelter Some More.” Athens Messenger, OH. 7-19-1954, p. 1.
[7] Associated Press. “Middlewest To Swelter Some More.” Athens Messenger, OH. 7-19-1954, p. 1.
[8] Daily Sikeston Standard, MO. 7-21-1954, p. 1.