This summer has been one of the harshest in history. The heatwave starts in June, with temperatures up to over 39 degrees Celsius. In places such as North Dakota, the highest measured could reach up to 49 degrees Celsius (121 degrees F). Many are reporting the deaths of people locally due to heat stroke, or exhaustion working under the heavy sun. A tally of around 7000 are currently registered to have died due to heat related causes.

Not only that, the heat is causing the most issues for farmers around the country, as crop failure is prevalent. In an economy in a depression and being hit by Black Monday, the follow up rise in food costs does not help those who are in need. The fact that the drought hit mainly the midwest complicates the issue. The heat plus wind causes the effect of corrosion which combined with a failure of dryland farming methods meant that a huge amount of dust are blown up and carried, often creating massive dust storms that could destroy massive amounts of crops in the Midwest. The economic toll has been incredibly significant, and with the forecast for the heatwave lasting perhaps into September, it has contributed greatly to the radicalisation of much of the American working class.