1939 brought historic heat and drought to the US, and record heat and fires to Australia. The glaciers of Greenland and Norway were facing catastrophic collapse.
Logan, Iowa set the state record for most days above 80F.
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/ghcn/daily/all/USC00134894.dly
Mon, Dec 11, 1939 – Page 13
“Greenland’s Glaciers Melting, Scientist Says
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (INS)—
All the glaciers in eastern Greenland are rapidly melting, declared Prof. Hans Ahlmann, Swedish geologist, in a report to the Geographical society here on his recent expedition to the Arctic subcontinent.“Everything points to the fact that the climate in that region has been growing warmer during recent years,” the professor said.
“It may without exaggeration be said that the glaciers—like those in Norway—face the possibility of a catastrophic collapse.”
Dec 11, 1939, page 13 – The Gazette at Newspapers.com
p1 – 14 Jan 1939 – The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954) – Trove
13 Jan 1939 – HUNDREDS FLEE FROM SWEEPING BUSHFIRE PERIL – Trove
According to NASA, 1939 was cold.
Global Temperature | Vital Signs – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet