Dear Tom,
In a book about the St. Louis Cardinals’ Gashouse Gang, the author mentioned that St. Louis experienced 30 consecutive 100-degree days during the 1934 season. Is that true, and was it also hot in Chicago?
–Alex Miller
Dear Alex,
The summer of 1934 was during the “Dust Bowl” and it was beastly hot in St. Louis; but not quite as hot as the author implied. St. Louis officially experienced 23 days of 100 degrees or higher that summer plus many more days in the 90s. There were eight consecutive 100s from July 18 to 25, including the season’s highest reading of 110 degrees on July 24. It was also very hot in Chicago and most of the Midwest. Temperatures at Midway Airport topped the century mark 12 times that summer, including an all-time high reading of 109 on July 23 and six straight 100s from July 20 to 25.
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