US Heatwave: Then and Now

As I post this the US is in the grip of a record heatwave. To add to the suffering this heatwave is being accompanied by high humidity, which is making it all the worse. New York City canceled Sunday's New York City Triathlon. In South Dakota and Kansas, roads have buckled and cracked from the heat. Several deaths have been reported nationwide.

Let’s go back to 1936 when the US and Canada suffered an equally bad heatwave. To add to the pain of the time this occurred during the height of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The death toll was horrifying in that it exceeded 5,000. To add insult to injury, the 1936 heatwave was followed one of the coldest winters on record.

So as we try to stay cool let’s listen to the advice of George Olsen from 1929 ‘T’ain’t No Sin to Dance Around in Your Bones.”