Heat Wave Temperatures Soar

Key Takeaways

• People might not consider heat waves to be as concerning as tornadoes or other natural disasters, but they are.

• In certain moments of history, hundreds of thousands of people perished because of heat waves and subsequent droughts.

• Areas out west have been faced with temperatures in excess of 130°F.

• While residents in eastern states may have never reached those temperatures, they have to battle humidity which can make things even more unbearable.

• Going back to medieval times, a terrible host of diseases like dysentery often accompanied these perilous times.

Highest Heat Wave Temperatures in History

Can you imagine enduring heat wave temperatures without the comfort of central air conditioning or an in-ground swimming pool? Without question, our predecessors from the Medieval Age had a tougher time.

Below, you’ll find a list of some of the most notable heat waves in history, in the order in which they occurred. Some of the California heat wave temperatures are absolutely shocking, climbing upwards of 130°F. Let’s take a closer look at these astonishing numbers.