November 23, 1854

Drought lingered into fall 1854 after a hot, dry summer.  Temperatures were as high as 107° in the summer of ‘54, which equaled the hot summers of 1838, 1840, 1841, 1860, 1880 & 1881.  1854 was part of a multi-year drought in the region with some form of summer drought in the viewing area in 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856 & 1857.  The dryness had peaks (severe category) in 1854, 1856 & 1857 before major floods in spring 1858 ended the recurring droughts.