2011 North American heat wave

The 2011 North American heat wave was a deadly summer 2011 heat wave that affected the Southern Plains, Midwestern United States, Eastern Canada, Northeastern United States, and much of the Eastern Seaboard, and had Heat index/Humidex readings reaching upwards of 131 °F (55 °C). On a national basis, the heat wave was the hottest in 75 years.

Before the start of the heat wave, two derecho events took place; one on July 11 over most of the central Plains, the lower Great Lakes and the Appalachian region; the other on July 17 over eastern Ontario, southern Quebec and northern New England. On July 21, 2011, hot weather over the past week culminated into record-breaking temperatures across the province of Ontario, also in Michigan, Ohio, upstate New York and Quebec, shattering long held records. Toronto reached 38 °C (100 °F) for the first time in nearly 10 years. The humidex reached 51 at the downtown station by late afternoon. It was deemed so hot that the unusual decision was made to close the dome at the Rogers Centre during the Toronto Blue Jays baseball game, usually done in the event of cold weather or rain.

The intense heat moved eastwards and peaked along the US I-95 corridor on July 22, 2011, with Central Park in New York City breaking the record for the day at 104 °F (40 °C) or more in the interior of city which was the hottest temperature the city had experienced in over three decades. Newark, New Jersey also reached an all-time record high of 108 °F (42 °C), as did Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia at 105 °F (41 °C). Philadelphia surpassed its daily record when it reached 103 °F (39 °C), and Boston tied for the second highest temperature on record at 103 °F (39 °C), making it the hottest day in 85 years. The heat was blamed for at least 25 deaths across the Midwest and the Northeast. Daily high temperatures warmer than normal began on the southern plains during May 2011, accompanied by one of the most severe droughts ever recorded. The heat wave continued to intensify, with temperatures in north Texas exceeding 100 °F (38 °C) most days beginning in mid-June.

By July 27, the heat had intensified over the central plains, in Hutchison and Salina, Kansas temperatures reached 113 °F (45 °C).

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