We're used to severe weather here in the Mount Rushmore State. From the blazing heat to the punishing cold and everything in between, we've seen it all. While South Dakota falls and winters (and springs... and sometimes even summers) can get downright frigid, there is one time in history that stands out as being the worst of all.
During the fall and winter months, this is a typical sight for the Mount Rushmore State, but what is not typical is when temperatures reached a deadly -58°.
The year 1936 went down in South Dakota history; it was one of the state's worst winters.
That's just what happened in February 1936, when America experienced a cold wave unlike any before that still went down in history as being one of the worst ever recorded.
In addition to the midwest being affected, the Canadian prairie, northwest, southern, and eastern states were also hit, trapping people in their homes for weeks at a time.
Residents experienced some of the worst temperatures in South Dakota's history.
As if the cold itself wasn't harsh enough, the winter also brought record precipitation, which not only closed down schools, but cut off communication between smaller towns.
By March, the country began to experience a much-needed thaw, with temperatures reaching just over 32°.
Sadly, the extreme weather did not end that winter, as North America then experienced a record heatwave, with South Dakota hitting a record 110°+ that June.
While winter weather is already on everyone's minds, there is one thing for sure: there is no beating this extreme time in American history (at least, we hope there isn't). Did you, or someone you know, live through the South Dakota winter of 1936? Tell us about it in the comments! You can also compare winter 1936 with other historically harsh winters by clicking We Will Never Forget These 10 Horrific Winter Storms That Have Gone Down In South Dakota History.
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