The 1980 United States heat wave was a period of intense heat and drought that wreaked havoc on much of the Midwestern United States and Southern Plains throughout the summer of 1980. It was among the most destructive and deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history, claiming at least 1,700 lives.[1] Because of the massive drought, agricultural damage reached US$20 billion (equivalent to $74 billion in 2023 dollars[2]).[3] It is among the billion-dollar weather disasters listed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The heat wave began in June when a strong high pressure ridge began to build in the central and southern United States allowing temperatures to soar to 90 °F (32 °C) almost every day from June to September. The high pressure system also acted as a cap on the atmosphere inhibiting the development of thunderstorm activity, leading to exceptionally severe drought conditions. The heat wave paused briefly when the decaying Hurricane Allen disrupted the prevailing weather pattern.
Effectsedit
The drought and heat wave conditions led many Midwestern cities to experience record heat. In Kansas City, Missouri, the high temperature was below 90 °F (32 °C) only twice and soared above the century mark (100 °F or 38 °C) for 17 days straight; in Memphis, Tennessee, the temperature reached an all-time high of 108 °F (42 °C) on July 13, 1980, part of a 15-day stretch of temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) that lasted from July 6 to 20. In Indianapolis, Indiana on July 15, the temperature reached 100 °F (38 °C) for the first time since 1954.
In Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, high temperatures exceeded 100 °F (38 °C) a total of 69 times, including a record 42 consecutive days from June 23 to August 3,[4] of which 28 days were above 105, and five days above 110. The area saw 29 days in which the previous record high temperature was either broken or tied, including its all-time high when the temperature hit 113 °F (45 °C) on three consecutive days (June 26 and 27 at DFW Airport and June 28 at Dallas Love Field).
Some 43% of American homes were without air conditioning in 1980.[5]
Hurricane Allen briefly paused the heat wave in early August.[6] The 2011 North American heat wave would ultimately surpass the 1980 heat wave in terms of number of days with highs exceeding 100 (with 71 days)[4] and the highest-ever low temperature for a single day (86 degrees); however, that heat wave only had 40 consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 100 (two short of the record) and the 113 degrees of 1980 remains a DFW all-time high. The high temperatures of the 1980 heat wave were worse than 2011, as was its early start in June and its ultimate human toll.
On the northern rim of the high pressure ridge, several severe long-lived windstorms called derechos formed. The most notable was the "More Trees Down Derecho" that occurred on July 5. It raced from eastern Nebraska to Virginia in 15 hours, killing six and injuring about 70. The Western Wisconsin Derecho of July 15 killed three, and caused extensive property damage.
^"Impacts of Temperature Extremes". sciencepolicy.colorado.edu.
^1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^. Archived from the original on 2001-09-15. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
^ abService, US Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Weather. "Fort Worth/Dallas, TX". www.srh.noaa.gov.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Change Is in the Air as the 80s Unfold". www.achrnews.com.
^Myatt, Kevin (July 11, 2020). "A silent killer, the heat wave of 1980 remains among the nation's deadliest weather events". Washington Post.
Further readingedit
Jones, T. S.; et al. (1982). "Morbidity and mortality associated with the July 1980 heat wave in St Louis and Kansas City, Mo". Journal of the American Medical Association. 247 (24): 3327–3331. doi:10.1001/jama.247.24.3327. PMID 7087075.
Karl, Thomas R.; Quayle, Robert G. (1981). "The 1980 Summer Heat Wave and Drought in Historical Perspective". Monthly Weather Review. 109 (10): 2055–2073. Bibcode:1981MWRv..109.2055K. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1981)109<2055:TSHWAD>2.0.CO;2.
Namias, Jerome (1982). "Anatomy of Great Plains Protracted Heat Waves (especially the 1980 U.S. summer drought)". Monthly Weather Review. 110 (7): 824–838. Bibcode:1982MWRv..110..824N. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1982)110<0824:AOGPPH>2.0.CO;2.
April 11, 2024
1980, united, states, heat, wave, period, intense, heat, drought, that, wreaked, havoc, much, midwestern, united, states, southern, plains, throughout, summer, 1980, among, most, destructive, deadliest, natural, disasters, history, claiming, least, lives, beca. The 1980 United States heat wave was a period of intense heat and drought that wreaked havoc on much of the Midwestern United States and Southern Plains throughout the summer of 1980 It was among the most destructive and deadliest natural disasters in U S history claiming at least 1 700 lives 1 Because of the massive drought agricultural damage reached US 20 billion equivalent to 74 billion in 2023 dollars 2 3 It is among the billion dollar weather disasters listed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Contents 1 Causes 2 Effects 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingCauses editThe heat wave began in June when a strong high pressure ridge began to build in the central and southern United States allowing temperatures to soar to 90 F 32 C almost every day from June to September The high pressure system also acted as a cap on the atmosphere inhibiting the development of thunderstorm activity leading to exceptionally severe drought conditions The heat wave paused briefly when the decaying Hurricane Allen disrupted the prevailing weather pattern Effects editThe drought and heat wave conditions led many Midwestern cities to experience record heat In Kansas City Missouri the high temperature was below 90 F 32 C only twice and soared above the century mark 100 F or 38 C for 17 days straight in Memphis Tennessee the temperature reached an all time high of 108 F 42 C on July 13 1980 part of a 15 day stretch of temperatures above 100 F 38 C that lasted from July 6 to 20 In Indianapolis Indiana on July 15 the temperature reached 100 F 38 C for the first time since 1954 In Dallas Fort Worth Texas high temperatures exceeded 100 F 38 C a total of 69 times including a record 42 consecutive days from June 23 to August 3 4 of which 28 days were above 105 and five days above 110 The area saw 29 days in which the previous record high temperature was either broken or tied including its all time high when the temperature hit 113 F 45 C on three consecutive days June 26 and 27 at DFW Airport and June 28 at Dallas Love Field Some 43 of American homes were without air conditioning in 1980 5 Hurricane Allen briefly paused the heat wave in early August 6 The 2011 North American heat wave would ultimately surpass the 1980 heat wave in terms of number of days with highs exceeding 100 with 71 days 4 and the highest ever low temperature for a single day 86 degrees however that heat wave only had 40 consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 100 two short of the record and the 113 degrees of 1980 remains a DFW all time high The high temperatures of the 1980 heat wave were worse than 2011 as was its early start in June and its ultimate human toll On the northern rim of the high pressure ridge several severe long lived windstorms called derechos formed The most notable was the More Trees Down Derecho that occurred on July 5 It raced from eastern Nebraska to Virginia in 15 hours killing six and injuring about 70 The Western Wisconsin Derecho of July 15 killed three and caused extensive property damage See also edit1988 89 North American drought Extreme weather List of disasters List of United States disasters by death toll MeteorologyReferences edit Impacts of Temperature Extremes sciencepolicy colorado edu 1634 1699 McCusker J J 1997 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States Addenda et Corrigenda PDF American Antiquarian Society 1700 1799 McCusker J J 1992 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States PDF American Antiquarian Society 1800 present Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Consumer Price Index estimate 1800 Retrieved February 29 2024 National Climatic Data Center Chronological List of U S Billion Dollar Events 22 Jul 2008 Archived from the original on 2001 09 15 Retrieved 2008 07 25 a b Service US Department of Commerce NOAA National Weather Fort Worth Dallas TX www srh noaa gov a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Change Is in the Air as the 80s Unfold www achrnews com Myatt Kevin July 11 2020 A silent killer the heat wave of 1980 remains among the nation s deadliest weather events Washington Post Further reading editJones T S et al 1982 Morbidity and mortality associated with the July 1980 heat wave in St Louis and Kansas City Mo Journal of the American Medical Association 247 24 3327 3331 doi 10 1001 jama 247 24 3327 PMID 7087075 Karl Thomas R Quayle Robert G 1981 The 1980 Summer Heat Wave and Drought in Historical Perspective Monthly Weather Review 109 10 2055 2073 Bibcode 1981MWRv 109 2055K doi 10 1175 1520 0493 1981 109 lt 2055 TSHWAD gt 2 0 CO 2 Namias Jerome 1982 Anatomy of Great Plains Protracted Heat Waves especially the 1980 U S summer drought Monthly Weather Review 110 7 824 838 Bibcode 1982MWRv 110 824N doi 10 1175 1520 0493 1982 110 lt 0824 AOGPPH gt 2 0 CO 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1980 United States heat wave amp oldid 1172141703, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
