2024 was the most popular yr in human historical past. Warmth waves affected each nook of the nation, and July clocked in as the most popular month ever recorded. In actual fact, from 2023 by way of 2024, there have been 14 consecutive months of record-breaking temperatures. This isn’t a brand new development, both: The ten warmest years on file have all occurred over the past decade.
That’s to not say that scorching climate isn’t pleasant. Warmth is usually a welcomed change from the gloomy chilly and rain of the winter. However as scorching temps change into more and more harmful, it’s essential to pay attention to the place the warmth is most intense.
As we head into one other probably record-breaking summer time, Redfin has compiled an inventory of the most popular cities within the U.S. to assist. Whether or not you’re heat-averse and searching for locations to keep away from, or a sun-chaser trying to find your subsequent residence, learn on to see which cities high the listing – and how one can keep protected in a warming world.
How we measure the most popular cities
To find out the “hottest” cities, we ranked U.S. cities with populations over 100,000 primarily based on their common summer time temperature. This fashion, we account for cities with hotter summers and cooler winters, moderately than favoring tropical locations which might be heat year-round. We additionally included every metropolis’s common annual temperature, although it didn’t issue into the rankings.
A mean summer time temperature combines a metropolis’s common each day excessive and low temperatures from June-August. A mean annual temperature combines a metropolis’s common each day excessive and low temperatures from January-December.
What are the most popular cities within the U.S.?
1. Phoenix, Arizona
Common summer time temperature: 93.7°F
Common annual temperature: 75.4°F
Report highest temperature: 122°F (1990)
Phoenix is the most popular metropolis within the U.S. Town will get so scorching due to its location within the quickly warming Sonoran Desert, year-round sunshine, and the city warmth island impact. And it’s solely getting hotter.
2024 was the most popular yr within the metropolis’s historical past. Phoenix skilled an unprecedented 113 consecutive days with temperatures reaching not less than 100°F, shattering the earlier file of 76 days set in 1993. This excessive warmth stretched into October and produced 70 days with temperatures above 110°F – greater than triple the town’s common of 21 days.
A brand new actuality is forcing the town to adapt to insufferable summer time warmth. Current efforts embrace increasing the usage of cool pavement – a pavement coating that displays daylight – and bettering Phoenix’s City Tree and Shade Program. Town goals to cowl 25% of the town with shade by 2030, utilizing timber to naturally cool the setting.
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2. Yuma, Arizona
Common summer time temperature: 92.8°F
Common annual temperature: 75.9°F
Report highest temperature: 124°F (1995)
Formally the sunniest metropolis on the earth, Yuma, AZ, is the second-hottest metropolis within the U.S. Positioned within the coronary heart of the Sonoran Desert, the Outdated Western city sees barely increased daytime highs than Phoenix however cooler in a single day lows (about 2°F), which is why its each day common temperature is decrease.
As a result of it’s solely 90 miles from the Gulf of California, Yuma additionally experiences extra humidity than most desert cities, which might intensify warmth stress and make temperatures really feel even hotter.
Regardless of the summer time extremes, Yuma stays a winter haven. Its heat, sunny winters entice round 90,000 part-time residents (snowbirds) every year. The area is understood for its irrigated agriculture, particularly lettuce and different cool-season crops which might be exhausting to develop elsewhere throughout winter months.
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3. Las Vegas, Nevada
Common summer time temperature: 90.8°F
Common annual temperature: 70.1°F
Report highest temperature: 120°F (2024)
An leisure oasis in the course of the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas is the third-hottest metropolis within the nation. Temperatures in Las Vegas are barely cooler than Phoenix and Yuma, primarily as a result of it’s farther north. Nevertheless, it has been warming quickly, particularly at night time. A further month of 100°F temperatures are anticipated yearly by 2050.
Residents skilled this warmth first hand in 2024 throughout a record-breaking summer time. In July, Sin Metropolis noticed seven straight days with highs above 115°F and three days topping 118°F, each information. A temperature of 120°F was recorded throughout this heatwave, which broke the all-time file by an astonishing 3°F.
Town’s speedy development has added to the chance. Las Vegas’ metro’s inhabitants has almost doubled since 2000, partially as a result of it was a high migration vacation spot for individuals trying to find heat, sunny climate.
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4. McAllen, Texas
Common summer time temperature: 88.5°F
Common annual temperature: 77.4°F
Report highest temperature: 111°F (2023)
McCallen is a melting pot of tradition within the coronary heart of the Rio Grande Valley, boasting the most popular summers in Texas. McCallen feels the warmth due to its southern latitude, proximity to the Chihuahuan Desert, and warming affect from the soupy Gulf of Mexico. This makes humidity a serious situation, compounding the results of already excessive warmth.
Like most cities in 2024, warmth was on full show in McCallen. It started in spring, with 115°F warmth indices (what the temperature really seems like) in early Might. By July, they soared to a harmful 124°F (100°F with 81% humidity), and remained very excessive in August. A number of long-lasting warmth domes had been accountable.
Texas as a complete has warmed exceptionally rapidly, turning into the most popular state within the nation. Throughout the state, triple-digit warmth has change into the norm, with common temperatures now 6–12°F above regular.In actual fact, prior to now ten years, there have been 1,000 extra days of record-breaking warmth than in a typical decade. 2025 appears to be persevering with the development.
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5. Laredo, Texas
Common summer time temperature: 88.0°F
Common annual temperature: 74.6°F
Report highest temperature: 115°F (1908)
Located alongside the banks of the Rio Grande, Laredo is the fifth-hottest metropolis within the U.S. It experiences comparable temperatures to its southern counterpart, McCallen, however with much less humidity and barely cooler summers. Laredo’s location on the recent, dry plains farther from the coast leaves loads of room for warmth waves to take maintain, although, so extraordinarily scorching temperatures are extra frequent.
Like most of Texas, Laredo noticed a record-breaking summer time in 2023, with July posting the most popular month within the metropolis’s historical past. 2024 introduced little reduction, as triple-digit warmth returned for weeks at a time. Laredo already sees probably the most 100°F days in Texas – a mean of 78 and file of 146 – and extended warmth waves have gotten extra frequent, pushing the town to confront the rising dangers.
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6. Brownsville, Texas
Common summer time temperature: 86.4°F
Common annual temperature: 76.2°F
Report highest temperature: 106°F (1984/2023)
Brownsville is the sixth-hottest metropolis within the nation. Positioned on the Gulf Coast simply north of Mexico and only some hundred miles from the Chihuahuan Desert, Brownsville advantages from each heat winters and scorching summers. Whereas milder than inland cities like Laredo or McAllen, Brownsville nonetheless faces severe warmth dangers.
Brownsville noticed a record-hot yr in 2023, with an particularly scorching summer time. This heat continued in 2024, with warmth waves gripping the Rio Grande Valley within the spring and thru the summer time. The whole Gulf Coast baked for weeks, partially as a result of the Gulf of Mexico skilled record-high temperatures.
The world’s oceans soak up ~90% of the warmth from human-caused emissions. In order the Gulf continues to heat, cities like Brownsville are more and more weak to lengthy, harmful warmth occasions.
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7. Tucson, Arizona
Common summer time temperature: 86.4°F
Common annual temperature: 69.7°F
Report highest temperature: 117°F (1990)
Tucson, often called the Outdated Pueblo for its 10,000-year lengthy native historical past, is the seventh-hottest metropolis within the nation. Town is located within the Sonoran Desert and will get extremely popular, however it’s really about 5 levels cooler than Phoenix and sees almost 4 extra inches of rain. It is because the town sits about 1,500 ft increased in elevation and is nestled amongst 5 small mountain ranges.
In July 2024, Tucson logged two record-breaking days in a row – 111°F and 112°F – serving to that summer time to change into the most popular on file. Irregular heat continued into the autumn and winter, made worse by humidity.
Summer season monsoons are frequent, however they don’t all the time carry reduction – and flash flooding can comply with intense warmth. Fall and spring provide spectacular climate, however Tucson’s summers have gotten longer, hotter, and extra harmful.
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8. San Antonio, Texas
Common summer time temperature: 85.4°F
Common annual temperature: 71.1°F
Report highest temperature: 111°F (2000)
San Antonio is so scorching due to its flat panorama, proximity to the nice and cozy and humid Gulf Coast, and warmth waves from Mexico. The city warmth island impact can also be a significant component for almost 90% of the inhabitants, in some circumstances elevating temperatures by an extra 9°F.
San Antonio’s warmth was on show in 2024 – the most popular yr within the metropolis’s historical past. Blistering temperatures started in earnest in Might, when the town noticed per week of 95°F+ days. Then, in June, the warmth index reached 117°F for an all-time excessive. To shut out the summer time, a record-breaking heatwave in August pushed temperatures previous 100°F for per week.
Frequent excessive warmth will probably change into the norm within the close to future; 100 diploma days at the moment are three-times extra frequent in San Antonio than they had been 30 years in the past.
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9. Faculty Station, Texas
Common summer time temperature: 84.5°F
Common annual temperature: 69.4°F
Report highest temperature: 112°F (2000)
Faculty Station, positioned between Austin, Waco, and Houston, has a reasonably comparable local weather to all three cities. It’s much less humid than Houston, a bit hotter than Austin, and hotter than Waco. Warmth from the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico correct present many of the heat, made worse by frequent southerly (from the south) winds. The flat panorama means warmth has no hassle flowing in.
As with most different Texas cities, Faculty Station endured a scorching 2024. Heat peaked in August, when warmth indexes of 110°F led to just about monthlong warmth warnings and advisories.
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10. Dallas, Texas
Common summer time temperature: 84.5°F
Common annual temperature: 68.0°F
Report highest temperature: 113°F (1980)
Adjoining to Fort Price, Dallas is understood for its soccer, cowboy tradition, and scorching summers. The warmth comes from southerly winds from Mexico and the Gulf, resulting in moist, muggy air that Texas is notorious for.
After a record-breaking summer time in 2023, Dallas noticed extra of the identical in 2024. Town reached 107°F in August and broke the 100°F barrier 23 occasions. Excessive temperatures lingered into the autumn, persevering with a development of longer, hotter summers throughout North Texas.
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What’s the hottest place within the U.S.?
Loss of life Valley Nationwide Park is the most popular place within the U.S. The desert basin has a mean summer time temperature of 101.3°F and a mean summer time excessive of 114.8°F. In 2024, it recorded its hottest summer time on file, averaging 104.5°F – greater than 3°F above regular.
Not solely is Loss of life Valley the most popular place within the nation, however it’s additionally seen the most popular temperatures ever recorded on Earth. The park hit 134.0°F in 1913, which is acknowledged as the most popular temperature in historical past (though this has been disputed). It’s additionally seen the world’s second-hottest temperature of 130°F in 2020 and 2021 (unverified), and a number of other comparable highs just lately.
The desert will get so scorching as a result of it sits ~280 ft under sea stage and has a number of the highest barometric stress on the earth. The close by mountains additionally entice warmth, appearing as a furnace.
How are temperatures altering?
21 of the previous 22 months have surpassed 1.5°C (2.7°F), the edge above which scientists say will set off irreversible local weather impacts. Whereas it gained’t be official till that stage is sustained over 20 years, we might already be residing within the new regular.
This file warmth has fueled extra intense, long-lasting warmth waves – the deadliest type of excessive climate – together with stronger and extra frequent hurricanes, floods, and droughts. Analysis exhibits that with out main cuts to greenhouse fuel emissions, rising temperatures will probably make some places uninhabitable to people throughout the subsequent 50-80 years.
Tropical and coastal areas face the best danger of insufferable warmth on account of their excessive humidity, which might result in extraordinarily excessive warmth indices. Because of this Southeastern U.S. cities have the best warmth dangers within the nation, with the Southwest shut behind. In actual fact, 100% of properties in each metropolis on this listing have a serious or higher warmth danger.
Methods to put together for excessive warmth
As record-breaking temperatures change into extra frequent, it’s important to take warmth severely – particularly within the nation’s hottest cities. Listed below are a couple of tips about how one can keep protected when the mercury rises:
Hydrate always: Don’t wait till you’re thirsty. Drink water commonly all through the day, particularly if you happen to’re outdoors.
Preserve your own home cool: Use followers, blackout curtains, and AC if obtainable. Even a couple of levels of enchancment could make an enormous distinction throughout a warmth wave.
Keep away from peak warmth: Keep indoors or within the shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when temperatures are normally the best. Native authorities might present extra detailed suggestions. Should you don’t have a method to calm down indoors, discover a native cooling middle or public area with air-con.
Know the indicators of warmth sickness: Dizziness, confusion, and speedy heartbeat can sign warmth exhaustion or stroke. Should you see anybody scuffling with these signs, search assist instantly.
Methodology
This listing comprises common annual temperature information for cities with over 100,000 residents.
Knowledge comes from the Nationwide Facilities for Environmental Info (NCEI) and its mum or dad administration, the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Common summer time temperatures are a three-month common primarily based on information from June-August 1991-2020. Common annual temperatures are a twelve-month common primarily based on information from 1991-2020.
