1980 United States heat wave
Encyclopedia
The 1980 United States Heat Wave was a period of intense heat and drought that wreaked havoc on much of the midwestern United States throughout the summer of 1980. It is among the most devastating natural disasters in terms of deaths and destruction in U.S. history, claiming at least 1,700 lives and because of the massive drought
, agricultural damage reached US$20.0 billion (US$55.4 billion in 2007 dollars, adjusted for the GNP
inflation index). It is among the billion-dollar weather disasters listed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
.
pressure ridge began to build in the central and southern United States allowing temperatures to soar to 90 °F (32.2 °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 broke only when decaying Hurricane Allen
disrupted the prevailing weather pattern.
In Kansas City, Missouri
, the high temperature was below 90 only twice and soared above the century mark (100 °F (37.8 °C)) for 17 days straight and in Memphis, Tennessee
, the temperature reached an all-time high of 108 °F (42.2 °C) on July 13, 1980, part of a 15-day stretch of temperatures above 100 °F (37.8 °C) that lasted from July 6–20, 1980.
In Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, high temperatures exceeded 100 °F (37.8 °C) a total of 69 times, including a record 42 consecutive days from June 23 to August 3. Dallas/Fort Worth reached an all-time high when the temperature hit 113 °F (45 °C) on three consecutive days on June 26-28. In all, the Dallas/Fort Worth area saw 29 days in which the previous record high temperature was either broken or tied. Dallas also had 28 days above 105 and five days above 110. Seymour, Texas
would hit 119 °F (48.3 °C), a record for Texas at the time. Ironically, Seymour also holds the record for the coldest temperature (-12) ever recorded in Texas. Some of the DFW records were eclipsed by the 2011 heat wave, but 1980 still stands out for its extreme heat. People will not particularly notice a difference of one or two degrees on a daytime average high or nightime average low, but they will definitely feel it when the high temperature exceeds 105 or 110. The 2011 heat wave produced only one day of 110 and a handful of days of 105 or more, and 1980 still soundly defeats those numbers.
On the northern rim of the high pressure ridge, several severe long-lived windstorms called derecho
s 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 6 and injuring about 70. The Western Wisconsin Derecho
of July 15 caused extensive property damage.
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
, agricultural damage reached US$20.0 billion (US$55.4 billion in 2007 dollars, adjusted for the GNP
GNP
Gross National Product is the market value of all products and services produced in one year by labor and property supplied by the residents of a country...
inflation index). It is among the billion-dollar weather disasters listed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
.
Causes
The heat wave began in June when a strong highHigh pressure area
A high-pressure area is a region where the atmospheric pressure at the surface of the planet is greater than its surrounding environment. Winds within high-pressure areas flow outward due to the higher density air near their center and friction with land...
pressure ridge began to build in the central and southern United States allowing temperatures to soar to 90 °F (32.2 °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
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
activity leading to exceptionally severe drought conditions. The heat wave broke only when decaying Hurricane Allen
Hurricane Allen
Hurricane Allen was the first and strongest hurricane of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season. It was one of the strongest hurricanes in recorded history, one of the few hurricanes to reach Category 5 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale on three separate occasions, and spent more time...
disrupted the prevailing weather pattern.
Effects
The drought and heat wave conditions led many midwestern cities to experience record heat.In Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, the high temperature was below 90 only twice and soared above the century mark (100 °F (37.8 °C)) for 17 days straight and in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, the temperature reached an all-time high of 108 °F (42.2 °C) on July 13, 1980, part of a 15-day stretch of temperatures above 100 °F (37.8 °C) that lasted from July 6–20, 1980.
In Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, high temperatures exceeded 100 °F (37.8 °C) a total of 69 times, including a record 42 consecutive days from June 23 to August 3. Dallas/Fort Worth reached an all-time high when the temperature hit 113 °F (45 °C) on three consecutive days on June 26-28. In all, the Dallas/Fort Worth area saw 29 days in which the previous record high temperature was either broken or tied. Dallas also had 28 days above 105 and five days above 110. Seymour, Texas
Seymour, Texas
Seymour is a city in and the county seat of Baylor County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,740 as of the 2010 Census.-Geography:Seymour is located at ....
would hit 119 °F (48.3 °C), a record for Texas at the time. Ironically, Seymour also holds the record for the coldest temperature (-12) ever recorded in Texas. Some of the DFW records were eclipsed by the 2011 heat wave, but 1980 still stands out for its extreme heat. People will not particularly notice a difference of one or two degrees on a daytime average high or nightime average low, but they will definitely feel it when the high temperature exceeds 105 or 110. The 2011 heat wave produced only one day of 110 and a handful of days of 105 or more, and 1980 still soundly defeats those numbers.
On the northern rim of the high pressure ridge, several severe long-lived windstorms called derecho
Derecho
A derecho is a widespread and long-lived, violent convectively induced straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms in the form of a squall line usually taking the form of a bow echo...
s formed. The most notable was the "More Trees Down" Derecho that occurred on July 5. It raced from eastern Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 15 hours, killing 6 and injuring about 70. The Western Wisconsin Derecho
Western Wisconsin Derecho
The Western Wisconsin Derecho was a derecho, or severe weather system, that occurred through several counties of Western Wisconsin on July 15, 1980. It caused nearly $160M in damage and one person was killed. At the time, it was the worst natural disaster in Wisconsin history...
of July 15 caused extensive property damage.
See also
- Extreme weatherExtreme weatherExtreme weather includes weather phenomena that are at the extremes of the historical distribution, especially severe or unseasonal weather. The most commonly used definition of extreme weather is based on an event's climatological distribution. Extreme weather occurs only 5% or less of the time...
- MeteorologyMeteorologyMeteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
- List of United States disasters by death toll
- List of disasters