1936 North American cold wave

Weather event in North America The 1936 North American cold wave ranks among the most intense cold waves in the recorded history of North America. The Midwestern United States and the Canadian Prairies were hit the hardest. Only the Southwestern United States and California largely escaped its effects. The cold wave was related to a highly negative North Atlantic Oscillation event during that winter driving cold Arctic air into most of North America.See Ballesteros-Cánovas Juan Antonio Stoffel Markus Benito Gerardo Rohrer Mario Barriopedro David García-Herrera Ricardo Beniston Martin Brönnimann Stefan On the extraordinary winter flood episode over the North Atlantic Basin in 1936 Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences July 2, 2018 1436 1 206–216 10.1111/nyas.13911 29968302 February 1936 was the coldest February on record in the contiguous U.S., narrowly eclipsing February 1899.https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/time-series/us/tavg/1/110/0/2/1895-1936?base_prd=true&begbaseyear=1901&endbaseyear=2000 Contiguous U.S., Average Temperature, February National Centers for Environmental Information January 27, 2018 It also was the coldest month ever in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The meteorological winter (December through February) of 1935/36 was the coldest on record for Iowa,https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/13/tavg/193602 Iowa Average Temperature Rankings, February 1936 National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 Minnesota,https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/21/tavg/193602 Minnesota Average Temperature Rankings, February 1936 National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 North Dakota,https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/32/tavg/193602 North Dakota Average Temperature Rankings, February 1936 National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 and South Dakota.https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/39/tavg/193602 https://web.archive.org/web/20210409024253/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/39/tavg/193602 dead April 9, 2021 South Dakota Average Temperature Rankings, February 1936 National Centers for Environmental Information January 27, 2018 This winter was much colder than the immediately preceding winters. 1930 through 1934 had each seen exceptionally mild winters in substantial parts of the United States: 1930/31 in the northern Great Plains; 1931/32 in the mid- and south-Atlantic states, the eastern north central states, and the eastern south central states; 1932/33 in New England, and 1933/34 in the Mountain and Pacific states.The 1976–77 Winter in the Contiguous United States in Comparison with Past Records Henry F. Diaz Robert G. Quayle Monthly Weather Review 106 10 October 1978 1402–6 10.1175/1520-0493(1978)106<1393:TWITCU>2.0.CO;2 1978MWRv..106.1393D free In the northern plains, the Februaries of 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1931, and 1935 are among the 25 warmest Februaries between 1895 and 2017, although 1929 had the third-coldest February of all-time.https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/time-series/us/41/0/tavg/1/2/1895-2017?base_prd=true&firstbaseyear=1895&lastbaseyear=2017 February, Average temperature, Central NWS Region National Centers for Environmental Information January 26, 2018 Despite a mild March over most areas east of the Rocky Mountains, the six months from October 1935 to March 1936 were the fifth-coldest on record over the contiguous U.S.https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/time-series/us/110/0/tavg/6/3/1895-2017?base_prd=true&firstbaseyear=1895&lastbaseyear=2017 October–March, Average Temperature, Contiguous U.S., All 48 States National Centers for Environmental Information January 26, 2018 November and December 1935 thumb|upright=1.35|Winter 1935 (December 1935 – February 1936) Precipitation, in inches. Record wettest and driest is based on a 112 yr period of records, 1895–2006. The 1935/36 cold wave began in the plains states in November, when temperatures were well below normal in many areas west of the Mississippi River. November 1935 was one of the coldest Novembers on record for Idaho (fourth coldest),https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/10/tavg/193511 Climatological Rankings, November 1935, Average Temperature, Idaho National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 Oregon (sixth coldest),https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/35/tavg/193511 Climatological Rankings, November 1935, Average Temperature, Oregon National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 Washington (seventh coldest),https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/45/tavg/193511 Climatological Rankings, November 1935, Average Temperature, Washington National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 and North Dakota (seventh coldest).https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/10/tavg/193511 Climatological Rankings, November 1935, Average Temperature, North Dakota National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 During December, cold weather spread to the eastern half of the U.S., where most places were much below average. Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina had their second-coldest Decembers of all-time, with Florida averaging 50.8 °F 1,https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/08/tavg/193512 Climatological Rankings, December 1935, Average Temperature, Florida National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 Georgia 39.3 °F 1,https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/09/tavg/193512 Climatological Rankings, December 1935, Average Temperature, Georgia National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 and South Carolina 37.5 °F 1.https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/38/tavg/193512 Climatological Rankings, December 1935, Average Temperature, South Carolina National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 British ColumbiaJanuary 2, 1936 1 The Province December Set New Weather Mark for City: Was Warmest in History — Rain More Plentiful during 1935 and Montanahttps://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/38/tavg/193512 Climatological Rankings, December 1935, Average Temperature, Montana National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 were however significantly warmer than average. January 1936 The month began with a mild spell in the eastern states, but by the nineteenth a large blizzard-like storm covered the eastern half of the country, and would cause two deaths in New JerseyBlizzard-like Storm Causes Two Deaths The Morning Call January 20, 1936 1, 16 and two in the Catskill Mountains.Storm wreaks Havoc in State Poughkeespie Eagle-News January 20, 1936 1, 2 The storm produced heavy snow and blocked most roads in the Appalachian Mountains.Frigid Grip of Winter Holds Most of Nation John P. Gallagher Los Angeles Times January 19, 1936 1, 5 Snow was a contributing factor to several highway accidents that killed up to 100 people. The cold continued during the following weeks. The sea froze partially as far south as Chesapeake Bay.The Miami Herald Ocean Ships Marooned by 10-Inch Ice: Chesapeake Bay Frozen from Shore to Shore; Baltimore Cut Off — Below Zero for North Carolina: Midwest Miners Give Up Holiday and Dig Coal To Avert Famine February 2, 1936 Associated Press 1 From January 25 to 28, the Mid-Atlantic had its coldest January temperatures in eighteen years, with Washington, D. C. averaging 14 °F or.14˚ Average for 4 Days is Unequalled since 1917–18 Winter: 15 Deaths Brings U.S. Total to 250 – Devils' Lake with −27˚ Has Coldest Temperature The Washington Post January 28, 1936 1 High winds in some locations caused wind chills below -85 °F or. In Ohio and the Centralia district of Illinois,Potomac Ice-Bound for First Time in 18 Years; Warmer Forecast The Washington Post February 1, 1936 1 the cold destroyed the peach crop, whilst defective heaters caused numerous dangerous fires in Minnesota. North Dakota had its fifth-coldest January of all-time with an average temperature of -6.9 °F 1.https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/statewide/rankings/32/tavg/193602 Climatological Rankings, January 1936, Average Temperature, North Dakota National Centers for Environmental Information May 2, 2021 The coldest temperature recorded in North America during the cold wave was -75 °F 1 in Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories, Canada on January 8, 18, and 21.Historical Data - Climate - Environment and Climate Change Canada https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?timeframe=2&Year=1936&Month=1&Day=8&hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1911-08-01%7C1936-08-31&mlyRange=1911-01-01%7C1936-12-01&StationID=1653&Prov=NT&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=specDate&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2025&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=Fort+Resolution February 1936 thumb|upright=1.35|February 1936 US Temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit. Record warmest and coldest is based on a 112 yr period of records, 1895–2006. February was by far the coldest month of this severe winter. Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota experienced their coldest month on record. Two states recorded their coldest temperatures on record: McIntosh, South Dakota sank to -58 °F or, and Parshall, North Dakota hit -60 °F 1 or.https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/scec/records State Climate Extremes Committee: Records, Minimum Temperature, All States National Centers for Environmental Information January 26, 2018https://www.minotdailynews.com/news/local-news/2016/02/1936-coldest-winter-ever/ 1936: Coldest winter ever Minot Daily News Minot, North Dakota February 15, 2016 January 27, 2018 At Devil's Lake, North Dakota, the average temperature for five weeks ending in February was -21 °F 1.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/02/23/87914968.html?pageNumber=79 Weather Cycle Changing? Present Hard Winter May Be a Foretaste of a Series of Colder and Wetter Years J. B. Kincer The New York Times February 21, 1936 E10 January 27, 2018 Skis had to be used in rescue operations as a succession of snowstorms hit the Pacific Northwest states and much of the nation east of the Continental Divide.Weather Fair as Cold Eases Grip on Capital The Washington Post February 6, 1936 1, 3 By the middle of the month, all schools in the Midwest, Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest were closed by deep snowdrifts. Health care was affected by a shortage of serum. Many remote South Dakota towns did not have outside contact for several weeks,Expeditions Rush Aid to Snowbound: Many Midwest Towns Cut Off – Meningitis Adds to Danger; Planes to Fly Supplies to Stricken Sections Los Angeles Times February 14, 1936 1, 3 At the peak of the cold wave, only two days of supplies were in inventory at many stores in the plains states. As far south as Richmond, Virginia, rivers were completely ice-bound. Subsequent thaws accompanied by heavy rain over the southern states led to flooding. In Canada away from the Atlantic Ocean, temperatures averaged as much as 30 F-change below normal.February's Cold Breaks Records: Average Temperature Was 16.5 Degrees Below Zero March 2, 1936 Edmonton Journal 9 At the Saskatoon airport, the temperature did not rise above 0 °F 1 from February 2 through February 20.http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?timeframe=2&hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1915-06-01%7C1964-12-31&mlyRange=1915-01-01%7C1964-12-01&StationID=3328&Prov=SK&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2018&selRowPerPage=25&Line=14&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=Saskatoon&Day=26&Year=1936&Month=2# Daily Data Report for February 1936: Saskatoon Diefenbaker Int'l A Saskatchewan Government of Canada January 27, 2018 2011-10-31 A temperature of -63 °F 1 was reached in Sceptre, Saskatchewan.Record Cold Continues in West: 63 Below at Sceptre, Sask The Montreal Gazette February 17, 1936 1 March 1936 In the final week of February, a thaw finally came to the nation. Temperatures rose above freezing for the first time in many weeks. Fargo, North Dakota reached 32 °F or on March 1 for the first time since December 14, 1935. The warming led, however, to avalanches in the Pacific Northwest, where three people were killed on Snoqualmie Pass on February 24.At Least 3 Perish in Avalanche: Workers, Menaced by 'Slides, Continue to Dig through Snow – Cars Uncovered: All Vehicles Unoccupied: snow-slip Occurs at Snoqualmie Pass Saskatoon Star-Phoenix February 24, 1936 2 Above average to near average temperatures were recorded throughout the U.S. in March, except for the Pacific Northwest. The melting of the heavy winter snowfalls and thawing of the ground, along with the wettest March on record in the northeastern statesNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/time-series/us/101/00/pcp/1/03/1895-2015?base_prd=true&firstbaseyear=1895&lastbaseyear=1975&trend=true&trend_base=10&firsttrendyear=1975&lasttrendyear=2015&filter=true&filterType=binomial Northeast Precipitation, March led to record floods in most of the region's rivers, especially on smaller tributary streams.https://www.nytimes.com/1936/03/15/archives/hard-winter-brings-new-burst-of-floods-rush-of-water-over-frozen.html Talman C. F. Hard Winter Brings New Burst of Floods: Rush of Water Over Frozen Ground Causes in the East a Costly Disaster Yet Unlike Overflows of Spring The New York Times March 15, 1936 E12 July 31, 2019 See also North Atlantic oscillation 1936 North American heat wave National Centers for Environmental Information References 2 External links U.S. Climate at a Glance High Plains Regional Climate Center https://web.archive.org/web/20250628053611/https://hprcc.unl.edu/ 2025-06-28 Category:Meteorological events in 1936 Category:1936 natural disasters Category:20th-century cold waves Category:Cold waves in the United States North American Cold Wave, 1936