This City Bakes at 90 Degrees for Over Half the Year

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• Out of the 40 hottest cities in America, 15 are located in Texas and 10 are located in Florida.
• Key West, Florida ranks 12th overall — but has the highest average mean and highest average minimum temperatures.
• With climate change causing May 2023 to be the 3rd warmest May in 174 years, many areas across the U.S. will continue to grow hotter in the coming future.
• Also: 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever

For the United States, 2023 marks the 5th hottest year on record, with the annual temperature being 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit above average. In some states — specifically Texas, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and Louisiana — 2023 marked their hottest temperatures ever. Unfortunately, because of climate change, temperatures are probably not going to fall any time soon. States across the country are seeing increasingly worse heat conditions from heat domes and heat waves. 2024 has even brought more heat-related emergency department visits than the year before. These worsening weather changes are not only bad for your health, but harmful for the environment. (Check out every billion-dollar weather disaster in the U.S. in the past year.)

Although climate change is worsening heat nationwide, some areas are already known for being hot. When we think about areas like Arizona, Texas, or Florida, it conjures images of sunshine — and a deep desire for a slushee. However, some cities are hotter than others. To understand where the hottest cities exist in the country, 24/7 Wall St. looked at Comparative Climatic Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to create an index based on four measures: Observed data — the average number of days per year with a maximum temperature of 90° F or higher; climatological normals — normal daily maximum temperature; normal daily minimum temperature; and normal daily mean (average) temperature.

It is worth noting that the Comparative Climatic Data is averaging decades and decades of data points — some from early in the previous century. In today’s global warming environment, the weather in many cities is changing, with some cities becoming even hotter. So while the details below are accurate at the time of publication, these cities may shift in future years based on our new climate “norms.” We also only considered 244 cities with data out of all 50 states to identify the 40 cities that are, on average, hottest year-round. (These are the East Coast cities experiencing the worst heat waves right now.)

The 40 cities on the list are located in only nine states. Four cities are in Louisiana, three in California, and two each in Alabama, Hawaii, and Arizona. Nevada and Mississippi have one city on the list each. While it ranks 12th overall considering all measures in the index, Key West, Florida, has the highest average mean temperature at 78.9 degrees Fahrenheit and the highest average minimum temperature at 74 F. But where in the world (well, the country) is the highest average maximum temperature of 87.1 degrees F? Read on to find out.

Why Are We Covering This

Climate change is worsening all kinds of extreme weather globally, but much of it is related to heat — as heat fuels other types of extreme weather. Scientists’ analysis found that certain extreme heat waves last year indeed could not have been possible without climate change. Add to that the fact that extreme heat is the deadliest form of weather globally, and population exposure to extreme heat is increasing. It is interesting to see which cities are already the hottest year round, before even any heat waves or heat domes even further increasing temperatures in these places.

40. Meridian, Mississippi

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 65.9 F (#40 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 77.8 F (#37 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 54.1 F (#44 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 86 days (#30 most of 244 cities)

39. Redding, California

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 63.4 F (#57 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 76.6 F (#46 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 50.2 F (#70 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 106 days (#17 most of 244 cities)

38. Montgomery, Alabama

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 66.4 F (#37 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 78.4 F (#33 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 54.4 F (#41 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 86 days (#30 most of 244 cities)

37. Mobile, Alabama

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 67.6 F (#30 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 77.8 F (#37 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 57.4 F (#31 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 77 days (#42 most of 244 cities)

36. Wichita Falls, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 63.7 F (#54 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 76.2 F (#50 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 51.2 F (#62 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 108 days (#15 most of 244 cities)

35. Pensacola, Florida

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 69.4 F (#25 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 78.6 F (#28 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 60.3 F (#18 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 64 days (#58 most of 244 cities)

34. Shreveport, Louisiana

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 66.6 F (#35 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 77.5 F (#42 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 55.6 F (#38 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 94 days (#24 most of 244 cities)

33. Fresno, California

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 65 F (#47 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 76.3 F (#49 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 53.7 F (#48 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 109 days (#13 most of 244 cities)

32. Abilene, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 65.9 F (#40 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 78.2 F (#34 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 53.7 F (#48 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 103 days (#20 most of 244 cities)

31. Daytona Beach, Florida

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 71.5 F (#14 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 80.6 F (#16 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 62.5 F (#14 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 60 days (#61 most of 244 cities)

30. Midland-Odessa, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 65.8 F (#42 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 78.5 F (#31 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 53 F (#53 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 107 days (#16 most of 244 cities)

29. Jacksonville, Florida

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 69.3 F (#26 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 79.6 F (#24 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 58.9 F (#25 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 82 days (#36 most of 244 cities)

28. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 68.5 F (#27 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 78.9 F (#27 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 58 F (#29 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 90 days (#27 most of 244 cities)

27. Lake Charles, Louisiana

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 69.7 F (#23 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 79.3 F (#26 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 60.1 F (#21 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 81 days (#37 most of 244 cities)

26. El Paso, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 66.2 F (#38 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 78.6 F (#28 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 53.8 F (#46 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 109 days (#13 most of 244 cities)

25. Tallahassee, Florida

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 68.5 F (#27 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 79.7 F (#23 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 57.2 F (#33 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 92 days (#25 most of 244 cities)

24. Bakersfield, California

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 66.2 F (#38 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 78.2 F (#34 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 54.3 F (#43 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 110 days (#12 most of 244 cities)

23. New Orleans, Louisiana

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 70.5 F (#18 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 78.5 F (#31 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 62.5 F (#14 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 77 days (#42 most of 244 cities)

22. Kahului, Hawaii

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 77.1 F (#4 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 86.1 F (#2 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 68.1 F (#6 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 29 days (#123 most of 244 cities)

21. Honolulu, Hawaii

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 78 F (#2 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 84.6 F (#5 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 71.5 F (#2 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 25 days (#131 most of 244 cities)

20. Port Arthur, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 69.9 F (#22 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 79.6 F (#24 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 60.3 F (#18 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 88 days (#29 most of 244 cities)

19. Dallas, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 68 F (#29 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 77.9 F (#36 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 58.1 F (#28 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 104 days (#19 most of 244 cities)

18. Waco, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 67.1 F (#33 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 78.6 F (#28 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 55.6 F (#38 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 112 days (#11 most of 244 cities)

17. San Angelo, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 66.7 F (#34 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 80 F (#22 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 53.5 F (#51 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 115 days (#8 most of 244 cities)

16. Houston, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 70.5 F (#18 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 80.5 F (#18 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 60.5 F (#17 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 106 days (#17 most of 244 cities)

15. San Antonio, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 69.6 F (#24 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 80.3 F (#21 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 58.9 F (#25 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 117 days (#6 most of 244 cities)

14. Austin, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 70 F (#21 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 80.5 F (#18 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 59.4 F (#24 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 116 days (#7 most of 244 cities)

13. Victoria, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 70.7 F (#16 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 81.3 F (#15 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 60.2 F (#20 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 113 days (#10 most of 244 cities)

12. Key West, Florida

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 78.9 F (#1 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 83.7 F (#8 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 74 F (#1 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 50 days (#73 most of 244 cities)

11. West Palm Beach, Florida

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 75.8 F (#7 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 83 F (#11 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 68.6 F (#5 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 76 days (#44 most of 244 cities)

10. Orlando, Florida

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 73 F (#12 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 83.2 F (#9 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 62.7 F (#13 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 101 days (#22 most of 244 cities)

9. Tampa, Florida

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 74.5 F (#10 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 83 F (#11 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 66.1 F (#9 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 89 days (#28 most of 244 cities)

8. Miami, Florida

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 77.5 F (#3 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 84.2 F (#6 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 70.7 F (#4 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 72 days (#50 most of 244 cities)

7. Las Vegas, Nevada

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 70.1 F (#20 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 80.5 F (#18 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 59.6 F (#23 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 136 days (#3 most of 244 cities)

6. Corpus Christi, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 73 F (#12 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 82.3 F (#13 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 63.6 F (#12 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 114 days (#9 most of 244 cities)

5. Fort Myers, Florida

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 75.4 F (#9 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 84.9 F (#4 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 65.8 F (#10 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 102 days (#21 most of 244 cities)

4. Del Rio, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 71.5 F (#14 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 83.2 F (#9 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 59.8 F (#22 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 136 days (#3 most of 244 cities)

3. Tucson, Arizona

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 70.6 F (#17 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 84 F (#7 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 57.3 F (#32 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 148 days (#2 most of 244 cities)

2. Brownsville, Texas

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 76.2 F (#6 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 85.4 F (#3 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 67.1 F (#8 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 127 days (#5 most of 244 cities)

1. Phoenix, Arizona

• Avg. annual mean temperature: 75.6 F (#8 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. max temperature: 87.1 F (#1 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. min temperature: 64.1 F (#11 hottest of 244 cities)
• Avg. days of over 90F per year: 170 days (#1 most of 244 cities)

The post This City Bakes at 90 Degrees for Over Half the Year appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..