2001 Eastern North America heat wave


A rather cool and uneventful summer along the East Coast of the United States changed abruptly when a ridge of high pressure centered off the coast of South Carolina strengthened in late July.
It began in early August for areas of the Midwest and western Great Lakes before spreading eastward and intensifying. It waned in most areas by the middle of the month, and although fairly short in duration compared with some other continental heat waves, it was very intense at its peak.
The high humidity and high temperatures led to major heat wave that overtook the major Northeast Megalopolis. Temperatures in Central Park, New York City reached a peak of. The temperature reached in Newark, New Jersey.
Meanwhile, in Ontario and Quebec, extreme temperatures were also reported daily during the first week of August. Ottawa recorded its second-hottest day ever when the mercury approached on August 9 and at the Toronto Airport it hit on the same day, the hottest day there since 1955 with four straight days topping. Numerous records were shattered during the heatwave. Even in Nova Scotia, surrounded by the relatively cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean, temperatures still broke in some locations. Glace Bay, which has a sub-Arctic climate reached a record-breaking on August 10.
National Football League offensive tackle Korey Stringer suffered a heat stroke during the second day of the Minnesota Vikings preseason training camp and died as a result of complications on August 1, 2001. At least four New Yorkers died of hyperthermia. Chicago had at least 21 deaths.

The 2001 Heatwave in popular culture

The Tom Perrotta novel Little Children takes place in the middle of the heatwave.