What are the states with the highest temperatures in the US during the summer?
Texas, Louisiana, and Florida top the list of the hottest states as the southern and central United States bear the brunt of the summer heat this year.
With summer now in full swing, temperatures across the United States have been soaring. According to the latest data, several states in the southern and central regions of the country are experiencing the highest average temperatures this season.
Florida, with its year-round warmth, maintains a toasty summer average around 83°F (28°C). Joining the Sunshine State are the Gulf Coast neighbors: Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. They feel the heat radiating from the Gulf of Mexico, pushing their averages into the upper 70s and low 80s (°F).
Many of these states have humid, subtropical climates that contribute to their high summer temperatures. For example, Florida’s average can feel even hotter due to its muggy conditions.
Meanwhile, the dry heat of states like Texas and Arizona also pushes temperatures to extreme levels. Arizona, though not topping the overall state rankings, boasts Death Valley, infamous for holding the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in the World, a scorching 134°F/56°C.
Nevada and California’s deserts also contribute significantly to the heat wave, with average summer temperatures exceeding 80°F (27°C).
Climate change exacerbating the heat
Climate change is the major factor driving up temperatures across the United States, including in these hottest states. Studies have shown that human-caused global warming is making heatwaves more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting.
For instance, the Southwest has seen a dramatic rise in extremely hot days, with Arizona and Texas both setting new records for their hottest July on record in 2023.
430 days (and counting) of record-breaking ocean heat content in the Atlantic's "Main Development Region"... pic.twitter.com/DuO12Wvc21
— Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) July 17, 2024
Worryingly, these trends are expected to continue in the coming years and decades as the planet continues to warm. Residents of the hottest states will likely have to adapt to even more extreme summer heat in the future.