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The Hottest City in Every State

Toronto, ON, Canada / Radio 88.8 - Demo
David Heacock
Apr 12, 2021 | 1:01 PM


Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

With summer just a few months away, and the U.S. increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates, Americans are gearing up for the possibility of a more normal summer season. But while residents in the northern U.S. typically enjoy comfortably warm temperatures, Americans in other parts of the country increasingly face months of extreme heat and other severe weather events. According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), some U.S. cities experience nearly 200 days per year with temperatures of 90℉ or higher, a number that’s rising.

Many parts of the U.S. with already high summer temperatures are seeing their temperatures climb even higher as the Earth’s temperatures warm. In every year since 1977, global average temperatures have been higher than the 20th century global temperature average. And the difference from the average 20th century temperature has been steadily climbing.

In 2020, the global temperature average was 1.6℃ higher (2.84℉) than the average temperature from the last century, making it the warmest year on record (tied with year 2016). The impacts of global climate change are already occurring in the form of sea ice depletion, faster rise in sea levels, and more intense heat waves. Scientists predict that global temperatures will continue to increase, although not uniformly, and much of the western and central parts of the U.S. will be subject to more frequent and extreme summer heat waves.

As the Earth warms overall, such high temperature extremes are becoming increasingly common. In 2020, 49% of the U.S. had maximum temperatures much above normal—that is, nearly half of the country had high temperatures in the upper 10th percentile of the local historical record. At the same time, cold temperature extremes have become less common. For example, in 2020, no part of the U.S. recorded low temperatures in the bottom 10th percentile.

At the state level, some states have had more marked increases in their average temperatures than others. Comparing data from the past year to the historical record, Rhode Island experienced the greatest average temperature increase, 3.6℉, from the 20th century average temperature. Other states with similar increases include Maine, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey. Only two states, Arkansas and Oklahoma, actually recorded slightly lower average temperatures than last century’s average, -0.2℉ and -0.1℉ lower, respectively.

To find the hottest city in every state, researchers at Filterbuy analyzed the latest data from NOAA. Within each state, the researchers ranked cities according to the greatest long-term average number of days per year when the temperature is 90℉ or higher. Researchers also calculated the long-term average number of days per year when the temperature is 100℉ or higher, the long-term average high temperature during the summer months, and the average long-term low temperature during summer. Only cities with populations of 10,000 or greater were considered in the analysis.

The Hottest City in Every State

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Alabama

  • Hottest city: Tuscaloosa
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 80
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 5
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 91.9℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 70.7℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Alaska

  • Hottest city: Fairbanks
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 0
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 70.6℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 48.9℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Arizona

  • Hottest city: Yuma
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 185
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 124
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 107.5℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 73.8℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Arkansas

  • Hottest city: Helena-West Helena
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 100
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 11
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 94.1℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 68.2℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

California

  • Hottest city: Indio
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 182
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 117
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 105.7℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 78.3℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Colorado

  • Hottest city: Greeley
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 68
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 12
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 90.9℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 56.2℉

Danbury is a city in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT metro area. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Connecticut

  • Hottest city: Danbury
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 16
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 82.8℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 61.2℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Delaware

  • Hottest city: Newark
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 30
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 86.7℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 63.9℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Florida

  • Hottest city: Lakeland
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 138
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 93.8℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 72.5℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Georgia

  • Hottest city: Albany
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 89
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 2
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 91.9℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 71.4℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Hawaii

  • Hottest city: Honolulu
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 19
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 87.9℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 74.3℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Idaho

  • Hottest city: Caldwell
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 62
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 14
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 90.5℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 56.7℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Illinois

  • Hottest city: Carbondale
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 40
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 87.8℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 65.1℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Indiana

  • Hottest city: Evansville
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 66
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 3
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 90.6℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 68.8℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Iowa

  • Hottest city: Burlington
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 25
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 85.2℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 65.0℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Kansas

  • Hottest city: Liberal
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 73
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 13
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 91.3℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 63.2℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Kentucky

  • Hottest city: Glasgow
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 54
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 2
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 89.6℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 65.3℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Louisiana

  • Hottest city: Monroe
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 98
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 7
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 93.3℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 70.9℉

Orono is a city in Penobscot County, ME. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Maine

  • Hottest city: Orono
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 8
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 78.9℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 56.7℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Maryland

  • Hottest city: Baltimore
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 61
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 8
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 90.3℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 73.0℉

Lowell is a city in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Massachusetts

  • Hottest city: Lowell
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 15
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 81.9℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 57.6℉

Dearborn is a city in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Michigan

  • Hottest city: Dearborn
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 14
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 82.7℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 60.2℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Minnesota

  • Hottest city: Minneapolis
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 17
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 83.7℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 62.8℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Mississippi

  • Hottest city: Hernando
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 92
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 12
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 93.4℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 69.0℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Missouri

  • Hottest city: Kennett
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 63
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 5
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 90.6℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 68.0℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Montana

  • Hottest city: Billings
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 41
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 3
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 86.3℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 54.2℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Nebraska

  • Hottest city: Scottsbluff
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 40
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 3
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 86.3℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 56.0℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Nevada

  • Hottest city: Mesquite
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 147
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 100
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 105.2℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 74.3℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

New Hampshire

  • Hottest city: Hudson
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 11
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 80.5℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 56.4℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

New Jersey

  • Hottest city: Moorestown
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 37
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 87.2℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 61.7℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

New Mexico

  • Hottest city: Carlsbad
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 105
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 21
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 94.6℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 66.5℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

New York

  • Hottest city: New York
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 17
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 83.2℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 67.4℉

Concord is a city in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

North Carolina

  • Hottest city: Concord
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 55
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 2
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 89.3℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 67.3℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

North Dakota

  • Hottest city: Williston
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 22
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 2
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 81.7℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 53.2℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Ohio

  • Hottest city: Dayton
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 31
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 85.8℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 65.1℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Oklahoma

  • Hottest city: Lawton
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 96
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 27
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 95.3℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 70.0℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Oregon

  • Hottest city: Medford
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 54
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 9
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 87.7℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 55.4℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Pennsylvania

  • Hottest city: Philadelphia
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 32
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 86.2℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 68.3℉

Warwick is a city in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Rhode Island

  • Hottest city: Warwick
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 9
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 80.6℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 62.0℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

South Carolina

  • Hottest city: Columbia
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 95
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 12
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 93.5℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 71.9℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

South Dakota

  • Hottest city: Pierre
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 37
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 6
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 85.4℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 59.2℉

Millington in a city in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Tennessee

  • Hottest city: Millington
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 70
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 4
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 91.2℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 70.4℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Texas

  • Hottest city: Rio Grande City
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 166
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 44
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 98.1℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 75.3℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Utah

  • Hottest city: St. George
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 116
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 46
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 98.7℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 71.6℉

Essex is a city in the Burlington, VT metro area. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Vermont

  • Hottest city: Essex
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 6
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 78.9℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 57.2℉

Suffolk is a city in the Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News, VA–NC metro area. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Virginia

  • Hottest city: Suffolk
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 46
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 88.4℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 66.2℉

Pasco is a city in Franklin County, WA. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Washington

  • Hottest city: Pasco
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 45
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 5
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 88.1℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 54.5℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

West Virginia

  • Hottest city: Huntington
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 28
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 86.0℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 64.4℉

West Allis is a city in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Wisconsin

  • Hottest city: West Allis
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 16
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 0
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 82.4℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 61.1℉

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Wyoming

  • Hottest city: Riverton
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 90℉: 30
  • Number of days per year w/ temperature above 100℉: 1
  • Average summer maximum temperature: 84.8℉
  • Average summer minimum temperature: 51.2℉

Detailed Findings & Methodology

Of the hottest cities in each state, Yuma, AZ boasts the highest number of days per year with temperatures above 90℉, at 185 days or over half the year. Yuma also has an astounding 124 days per year with temperatures over 100℉. On average, the hottest cities have 59 days per year with temperatures over 90℉ and 13 days per year with temperatures over 100℉.

Summer high and low temperatures also vary substantially among the hottest cities. On average across all 50 cities, the average summer high temperature is 89℉ and the average summer low temperature is 65℉. However, some cities have far hotter days. Yuma’s average high in summer is 108℉, while the average high summer temperature in Fairbanks, AK is just 71℉. Besides more moderate temperature during the day, northern states also tend to have cooler nights and mornings during the summer. This is reflected in the average summer low temperatures. The average low temperature in the summer in Fairbanks is a brisk 49℉, while summer temperatures typically don’t fall much below 80℉ in Indio, CA.

To find the hottest city in every state, researchers at Filterbuy analyzed the latest data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information’s (NCEI) Climate Normals dataset. The Climate Normals are three-decade averages of climatological variables, including temperature and precipitation. Within each state, the researchers ranked cities according to the greatest long-term average number of days per year when the temperature is 90℉ or higher. Researchers also calculated the long-term average number of days per year when the temperature is 100℉ or higher, the long-term average high temperature in summer, and the average long-term low temperature in summer. Only cities with populations of 10,000 or greater were considered in the analysis.

the hottest city in every state