MARYLAND - With its humid subtropical climate, is no stranger to hot summer days. But on one day in the sweltering summer of 1936, the temperature soared to a level that has never been officially matched since, marking the hottest day in the Old Line State's recorded history.
Maryland's All-Time High: The Hottest Day in State History
The highest temperature ever officially recorded in Maryland was a blistering 109°F (43°C). This all-time high has been recorded on four separate occasions, but the most frequently cited and earliest date for this record occurred on July 10, 1936.
- Locations: This record temperature was set in multiple locations across the state over the years, including Cumberland and Frederick on that historic 1936 date. It was later tied in other places.
- The Context: The Great Heat Wave of 1936: This record was not an isolated event. It was part of the devastating North American heat wave of 1936, one of the most severe in the continent's history. This massive weather event set all-time high temperature records in numerous states across the Midwest and the East Coast, including Maryland's neighbor, Pennsylvania, which hit its record high on the same day.
An Enduring Record:
For nearly 90 years, the 109°F reading has stood as the benchmark for extreme heat in Maryland. While the state has endured many heat waves, none have officially surpassed the incredible intensity of that historic summer day. The record serves as a powerful reminder of nature's extremes and a significant moment in the state's climatological history.
Sources & Links:
- State Climate Extremes Committee (National Centers for Environmental Information - NCEI)
- Maryland State Climatologist Office
- National Weather Service (NWS)
- Historical news archives and meteorological records from 1936
