The History of Heat Waves in Our 50 States

This is a story about all-time record high temperatures over the entire nation. (and note a correction at the end of this story)

I think it is extremely interesting that it has been as hot in Alaska as in Hawaii and that so many states well to the north of Alabama have been hotter than we have.

Another little interesting fact…of the 50 states, only 2 recorded their all-time high temperature outside the normal summer months of June, July and August. Alabama was one of those as we baked in 112-degree heat in Centreville on September 5, 1925. The other one is Hawaii, their all-time high came in 1931 on April 27 with 100 at Pahala.

Ironically, the all-time high for Alaska was 100 at Ft. Yukon way up in North Alaska north of the Brooks Range.

Of the 50 states, these little tidbits:
*5 states had their hottest ever in the month of June
*35 states set their records in July
*9 states chose August
*1 state had September (Alabama)
*1 state had April (Hawaii)

A lot of states had all-time high temperatures well above Alabama’s record. For example, in Idaho it was 118 at Orofino on July 28, 1934. The all-time highs for Montana and Illinois was 117, in Indiana, the record is 116 and in Nebraska 118. Even Minnesota has been hotter than Alabama with 114.
Most of the record heat in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest came during the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s, which in my opinion is one of the most depressing and tragic weather events in the history of our great nation.

NOTE
Thanks to Danny Hill for sending me a correction about North Carolina. For years, their all time high was in September but that was changed on August 21, 1983 when Fayetteville scorched in 110-degree heat.