The Hottest City in Every State

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

By David Heacock

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.

Data of global temperatures.

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.

Data of increase in extreme temperature in the US.

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.

Data of temperature this past year compared to the 20th century.

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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

A small house sits on the shore of a calm lake, with trees in the background. 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℉

A simple house on a meadow basks in the view of a lush grove of trees in the background and a river in the foreground. 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℉

A lone cactus reaches skyward. 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℉

A view deck juts out beside the lake, offering a stunning sunset view over the water. 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℉

A collection of windmills stands tall in a plain area, with mountains rising in the distance. 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℉

A road winds beside towering rocks, offering a scenic view of nature. 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℉

A solitary lighthouse stands sentinel at the seaside, with a cluster of small rocks in the foreground. 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℉

A tranquil body of water reflects the sky, dotted with scattered water plants. 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℉

An image of a calm lake and coconut trees silhouetted against a fiery sunset. 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℉

A view from the ground of trees with yellow leaves. 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℉

A calm blue sea laps at the shore, lined with tall buildings that are dwarfed by the mountain in the background. 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℉

Two horses graze in a meadow, with their stable visible in the background. 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℉

A meadow stretches out beneath a sky dotted with fluffy clouds. Two distant houses and a windmill complete the tranquil scene. 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℉

A man in blue walks down the street, parked cars lining the sides. 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℉

A plain meadow stretches out, with flowering plants lining the side of a rough road. 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℉

A close-up of a cornfield with white clouds above. 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℉

A country road winds its way along a scenic hill. 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℉

A pond surrounded by a few trees and grasses reflects the sky. A house stands in the distance, with a red car parked beside it. 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℉

A street lined with buildings stretches into the distance. 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℉

A view of a calm lake with white boats parked and buildings at the background. Show drafts 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℉

An aerial view reveals a collection of buildings. 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℉

A calm sea reflects the lights of buildings in the background. 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℉

An image of collection of buildings. 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℉

An image of a road leading to the forest. Show drafts 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℉

A weathered old house stands alone in a meadow, with a small tree casting a long shadow in the foreground. 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℉

A collection of tall trees and a blue sky above. 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℉

A big rock stands tall at the middle of a meadow and a blue sky above. 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℉

A long road stretches through the desert, with large rocks scattered around. 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℉

An image of a shallow river and a bridge above it. 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℉

Fields dotted with young crops stretch towards the horizon. A weathered fence separates the field from a tree in the foreground. 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℉

A long road cuts through a vast plain, dry grasses rustling in the breeze. A clear blue sky stretches overhead. 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℉

An image of apartments side by side along the street and a yellow car passing by. 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℉

A view of a road going to the city and tall buildings at the background. 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℉

A winding road slices through a rocky empty space with clear blue sky above. 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℉

A calm lake reflects a collection of buildings that line the shore. 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℉

A grassy meadow stretches in the foreground, with mountains rising in the background. 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℉

Sunset rays cast a silhouette of a lone tree branch standing tall in the meadow. 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℉

A calm lake reflects a collection of buildings in the background. 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℉

A view of collection of buildings and a clear blue sky above. 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℉

An image of two roads with trees around them leading to the cityscape. Show drafts 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℉

A calm lake lies in the foreground, with a building flying flags in front of it. 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℉

A calm lake lies in the foreground, with a collection of buildings at the background. 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℉

A fence with the word 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℉

A long, winding road cuts through a vast desert landscape, with scattered plants and distant hills framing the scene. 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℉

A clean road bisects the scene, lined with buildings on either side. 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℉

A calm sea stretches out in the foreground, with a few steel posts visible in the distance. 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℉

A close-up view of golden grass fields. 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℉

An aerial view showcases a collection of buildings bathed in the light of a sunset. 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℉

An aerial view showcases a collection of buildings. 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℉

A straight road slices through a meadow of dry, yellow grasses. 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.