Dust Bowl contributes to heat

The “Dust Bowl” years of 1930-1936 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 records. The string of hot, dry days was also deadly. Nationally about 5,000 deaths were associated with the heat wave.

In La Crosse, Wisconsin, there were 14 consecutive days – July 5-18 – where the temperature was 90 degrees or greater, and nine days that were at or hotter than 100 degrees. Six record July temperatures set during this time still stand, including the hottest day on record July 14 at 108 degrees. The average high temperature for La Crosse during that stretch of extreme heat was 101 degrees, and the mean temperature for the month finished at 79.5 degrees – the second-hottest on record.

Several factors led to the deadly heat of July 1936.

A series of droughts affected the United States during the early 1930s. The lack of rain parched the earth and killed vegetation, especially across the Plains states.

Poor land management and farming techniques across the Plains furthered the impact of the drought, with lush wheat fields becoming barren wastelands. Without vegetation and soil moisture, the Plains acted as a furnace. The climate of that region took on desert qualities, accentuating its capacity to produce heat.

A strong ridge of high pressure set up over the west coast and funneled the heat northward across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes.

As a result of the “Dust Bowl,” new farming methods and techniques were developed, along with a focus on soil conservation. That has helped to avert or minimize the impact of a prolonged drought.

From the National Weather Service