Warmest states in America
KieferPix // Shutterstock
Refresh: Warmest states in America
Young person drinking water on a hot summer day.
Globally, 2023 was the warmest year on record.
The planet’s average temperature reached 2.45 F above the pre-industrial average. During the record year, Antarctic sea ice extent hit new lows, a busy Pacific hurricane season rocked the west coasts of the U.S. and Mexico, and Canadian wildfires hurt air quality for millions.
In the U.S., every state’s meteorological temperature for 2023 was above their averages in the prior century.
Global warming is measured by land surface temperature, whereas air or meteorological temperature determines the daily weather forecast and how it will “feel” outside.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, surface temperatures are also increasing in the contiguous U.S. Since the late 1990s, these increases have become both more severe and more consistent. The surface temperature has increased every year in the 21st century thus far.
When comparing meteorological temperatures, summer 2021 (June to August) was the hottest summer period on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That year, a heat wave in June and July brought record heat to the Pacific Northwest, and California’s Death Valley reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
The summer temperature record for the contiguous U.S. was almost set again in 2022 but was 0.05 F shy of 2021’s 74 F average.
In 2023, the average temperature in the mainland U.S. was 54.4 degrees F, which breaks down to 73 F in the summer and 34.9 F in the winter.
Stacker compiled data from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information to find the warmest states based on their 2023 average temperatures. Each temperature is compared to the 1901-2000 average. Winter refers to December of the preceding year through February of the current year (e.g., in 1919, winter is December 1918 to February 1919), while summer refers to June through August of each year. All temperatures are listed in Fahrenheit, and data was not available for Hawaii.
Although the warmer climate of southern coastal states is often appealing, these regions also deal with meteorological phenomena—from droughts and floods to tropical storms and hurricanes—that can be devastating. Despite this, in recent years, Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas were the four states with the most significant population increase, which suggests a correlation between year-round warm temperatures; mild, short winters; and living preferences.
Read on to find out the temperatures in the warmest U.S. states, and see what the coldest states in America are here. [insert link]
Steve Heap // Shutterstock
#24. West Virginia
A river flowing through the Audra State Park near Buckhannon.
– Average temperature, 2023: 53.9 F (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 65.3 F (2.5 F above average)
– Average low: 42.6 F (2.3 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 69.4 F (0.7 F below average)
– Average winter temperature: 38.3 F (6.2 F above average)
Canva
#23. Indiana
Soybean fields in Indiana at sunset.
– Average temperature, 2023: 54.4 F (3.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 65.0 F (3.0 F above average)
– Average low: 43.7 F (3.1 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 71.8 F (0.6 F below average)
– Average winter temperature: 35.5 F (6.7 F above average)
Adriana.Macias // Shutterstock
#22. Illinois
The crowded Chicago lakefront on a hot Memorial Day.
– Average temperature, 2023: 54.8 F (3.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 65.3 F (3.2 F above average)
– Average low: 44.2 F (3.0 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 73.4 F (0.0 F below average)
– Average winter temperature: 33.7 F (5.6 F above average)
Canva
#21. New Mexico
The desert in New Mexico on a dry day.
– Average temperature, 2023: 55.3 F (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 70.5 F (2.7 F above average)
– Average low: 40.2 F (2.2 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 74.3 F (3.4 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 36.7 F (1.4 F above average)
Canva
#20. New Jersey
Bicycles on the Jersey Shore boardwalk during a sunny day.
– Average temperature, 2023: 55.4 F (3.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 65.5 F (3.9 F above average)
– Average low: 45.2 F (4.0 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 72.5 F (1.3 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 38.6 F (7.5 F above average)
Canva
#19. Kansas
Rural farm land in Kansas on a warm, clear-skied day.
– Average temperature, 2023: 56.3 F (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 69.3 F (2.6 F above average)
– Average low: 43.3 F (1.7 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 76.8 F (0.3 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 32.9 F (1.6 F above average)
Canva
#18. Maryland
An aerial view of Ocean City during the summer.
– Average temperature, 2023: 57.3 F (3.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 67.7 F (3.7 F above average)
– Average low: 46.9 F (3.4 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 74.1 F (1.1 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 40.4 F (6.6 F above average)
Canva
#17. Missouri
A canoe on a calm lake during a warm day.
– Average temperature, 2023: 57.4 F (2.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 68.8 F (3.1 F above average)
– Average low: 46.0 F (2.7 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 76.1 F (0.6 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 36.8 F (4.7 F above average)
Canva
#16. Virginia
Waves crashing against the shores of Virginia Beach.
– Average temperature, 2023: 57.5 F (2.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 68.7 F (2.8 F above average)
– Average low: 46.3 F (2.6 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 73.0 F (0.1 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 42.1 F (6.0 F above average)
Canva
#15. Delaware
Sunrise at Rehoboth Beach.
– Average temperature, 2023: 57.8 F (3.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 67.8 F (3.6 F above average)
– Average low: 47.7 F (3.6 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 74.6 F (1.3 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 41.2 F (6.5 F above average)
Irina Mos // Shutterstock
#14. Kentucky
A dramatic sunset on a countryside farm in Kentucky.
– Average temperature, 2023: 58.1 F (2.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 69.2 F (2.5 F above average)
– Average low: 46.9 F (2.7 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 74.0 F (0.6 F below average)
– Average winter temperature: 42.0 F (6.5 F above average)
Canva
#13. California
Rock formations on the coast of California.
– Average temperature, 2023: 58.2 F (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 70.2 F (0.2 F above average)
– Average low: 46.2 F (1.4 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 73.8 F (1.6 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 42.9 F (0.6 F below average)
DWBMedias // Shutterstock
#12. Tennessee
People swimming in the Wolf River to escape a heat wave in Memphis.
– Average temperature, 2023: 59.9 F (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 71.1 F (1.9 F above average)
– Average low: 48.8 F (2.7 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 75.2 F (0.5 F below average)
– Average winter temperature: 44.8 F (5.9 F above average)
Canva
#11. North Carolina
Homes on the coast of North Carolina.
– Average temperature, 2023: 60.7 F (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 71.9 F (2.0 F above average)
– Average low: 49.6 F (2.4 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 75.6 F (0.2 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 46.5 F (5.4 F above average)
Canva
#10. Arizona
A desert in Arizona with cacti in the foreground.
– Average temperature, 2023: 60.7 F (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 75.0 F (1.5 F above average)
– Average low: 46.5 F (1.2 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 79.4 F (2.1 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 41.7 F (0.6 F below average)
Liberty Drone Imaging LLC // Shutterstock
#9. Oklahoma
An aerial view of Tucker Tower on Lake Murray in Ardmore with a houseboat in the distance on a summer day.
– Average temperature, 2023: 61.8 F (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 74.3 F (2.5 F above average)
– Average low: 49.4 F (1.8 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 80.8 F (1.0 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 42.1 F (3.2 F above average)
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#8. Arkansas
A waterfall at Hot Springs National Park.
– Average temperature, 2023: 62.9 F (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 73.9 F (2.2 F above average)
– Average low: 51.9 F (2.7 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 79.9 F (1.2 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 46.1 F (4.7 F above average)
Canva
#7. South Carolina
A sunny day at Myrtle Beach.
– Average temperature, 2023: 64.2 F (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 75.4 F (1.4 F above average)
– Average low: 53.1 F (2.3 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 78.7 F (0.1 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 50.9 F (5.2 F above average)
Canva
#6. Alabama
The coastline of Gulf Shores.
– Average temperature, 2023: 65.4 F (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 76.8 F (1.9 F above average)
– Average low: 54.0 F (2.8 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 80.0 F (1.1 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 52.4 F (5.8 F above average)
Canva
#5. Georgia
A Georgia beach with a lighthouse in the background on a summer day.
– Average temperature, 2023: 65.7 F (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 77.1 F (2.1 F above average)
– Average low: 54.1 F (2.5 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 79.7 F (1.0 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 53.0 F (5.7 F above average)
travelview // Shutterstock
#4. Mississippi
Boats for shrimp fishing in Pass Christian.
– Average temperature, 2023: 66.7 F (3.0 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 78.1 F (2.8 F above average)
– Average low: 55.2 F (3.2 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 82.0 F (2.2 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 52.8 F (6.0 F above average)
Canva
#3. Texas
A desert in Texas with mountains in the background.
– Average temperature, 2023: 68.0 F (3.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 80.6 F (3.5 F above average)
– Average low: 55.5 F (3.3 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 85.3 F (4.0 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 51.2 F (3.9 F above average)
Canva
#2. Louisiana
A sunny day at the Louisiana State Capitol.
– Average temperature, 2023: 69.6 F (3.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 80.2 F (3.1 F above average)
– Average low: 59.0 F (3.4 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 84.9 F (3.8 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 56.1 F (5.2 F above average)
Canva
#1. Florida
Palm trees along the coast of the Florida Keys.
– Average temperature, 2023: 73.4 F (3.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– Average high: 83.6 F (2.7 F above average)
– Average low: 63.1 F (3.7 F above average)
– Average summer temperature: 83.2 F (2.7 F above average)
– Average winter temperature: 63.7 F (5.0 F above average)
Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Paris Close.
