1901 eastern United States heat wave

In spite of frequent nor'easters leading to record heavy rainfall over East Coast states from Massachusetts[2] to South Carolina[3] during April and May, drought had already been developing over the interior.

As the heat wave spread to New York City – in an era without sanitation or air conditioning – it had by the close of June begun to severely disrupt life.

It remains the hottest month on record in Kentucky and West Virginia, and throughout the eastern half, heat was extremely persistent without any cool interval – although a violent tornado hit Inwood on the northern tip of Manhattan with heavy rainfall on the fifth.

[5] With the persistent heat, most horses collapsed, and their carcasses became a source of germs that greatly added to the already high mortality rate in major cities.

Most factories were closed by the beginning of the month,[7] and those which continued to operate had to permit their workers to wear light gymnastic costumes, as these were the only cooler alternative to the three-piece suits considered polite dress at the time.