Counties in Ohio with the fastest-rising temperatures in the last 100 years
Hitting 116 degrees F in normally temperate Portland, Oregon. 105 degrees in Reno in September, just as summer is meant to be waning. And in California's Death Valley National Park, temperatures hit almost 130 degrees in the aptly named Furnace Creek, marking a world record for the hottest September day in history.
2021 and 2022 saw some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, as across the country extreme heat waves wreaked havoc on communities accustomed to more moderate weather. For many regions, the consequences were grave: in the 2021 Western heatwave, hundreds lost their lives, largely due to a lack of air conditioning, and wildfires ravaged the area.
Map of the past year's temperatures compared to the 100-year average
While not every county in the nation has experienced such extreme heat, climate change has dramatically changed the heat landscape in nearly every state. Coastal regions and the Southern U.S. are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures, and are also frequently targets of extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes.
Just as all states are not impacted equally by rising temperatures, regions within states have also seen widely different temperature changes over the last decades. Factors such as proximity to urban areas, bodies of water, and mountains can dramatically change the climate of a region. Stacker cited data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Center for Environmental Information to identify the counties in Ohio with the greatest departure from average temperatures during the period December 2021 to November 2022 compared to the 1901-2000 average. Average temperature over the past year served as a tiebreaker. Additional data on recent average high and low temperatures for each county is also included.
#50. Harrison County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #18 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.2 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.2 F (1.4 F above century average)
#49. Van Wert County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #20 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.6 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.8 F (2 F above century average)
#48. Auglaize County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #19 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.7 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62 F (1.9 F above century average)
#47. Erie County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #19 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.4 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.4 F (1.8 F above century average)
#46. Clermont County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 54.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #18 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.5 F (1.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 65.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
#45. Ashland County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #18 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.5 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.7 F (1.5 F above century average)
#44. Mercer County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #18 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.4 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.2 F (2.2 F above century average)
#43. Guernsey County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #15 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.7 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.4 F (1.3 F above century average)
#42. Muskingum County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #16 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42 F (2.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.4 F (1.2 F above century average)
#41. Madison County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #16 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.4 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.2 F (1.8 F above century average)
#40. Fayette County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.4 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.8 F (2 F above century average)
#39. Butler County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 54.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.4 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 64.9 F (2.2 F above century average)
#38. Wayne County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #15 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.1 F (1.8 F above century average)
#37. Clark County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #13 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.9 F (1.9 F above century average)
#36. Clinton County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #16 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.6 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 64 F (2.3 F above century average)
#35. Hamilton County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 55.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #13 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 44.5 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 65.8 F (2.3 F above century average)
#34. Williams County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #20 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.6 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.4 F (1.9 F above century average)
#33. Carroll County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #16 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.2 F (2.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.3 F (1.5 F above century average)
#32. Defiance County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #20 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.4 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.4 F (2 F above century average)
#31. Tuscarawas County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.4 F (2.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.4 F (1.5 F above century average)
#30. Sandusky County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.7 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.7 F (2.2 F above century average)
#29. Darke County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.9 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
#28. Mahoning County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #15 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.4 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.3 F (2.7 F above century average)
#27. Richland County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.5 F (2.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.7 F (1.7 F above century average)
#26. Seneca County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.7 F (2.2 F above century average)
#25. Allen County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #15 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.3 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.1 F (2.2 F above century average)
#24. Marion County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.3 F (2.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.1 F (1.7 F above century average)
#23. Warren County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 54.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.9 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 65 F (2.5 F above century average)
#22. Medina County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #13 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.8 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61 F (2.5 F above century average)
#21. Putnam County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.3 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.1 F (2.3 F above century average)
#20. Ottawa County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.4 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.5 F (2.6 F above century average)
#19. Greene County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.6 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.7 F (2.2 F above century average)
#18. Fulton County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.2 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.2 F (2.5 F above century average)
#17. Crawford County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.4 F (2.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.4 F (2 F above century average)
#16. Henry County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.7 F (2.2 F above century average)
#15. Trumbull County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.3 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.1 F (3 F above century average)
#14. Miami County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.2 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.6 F (2.4 F above century average)
#13. Montgomery County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 54.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.9 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 64.5 F (2.6 F above century average)
#12. Ashtabula County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.3 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.9 F (2.9 F above century average)
#11. Wood County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.9 F (2.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.3 F (2.5 F above century average)
#10. Geauga County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.2 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.9 F (3.2 F above century average)
#9. Cuyahoga County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.2 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.8 F (3.1 F above century average)
#8. Hardin County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43 F (3.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.3 F (2.5 F above century average)
#7. Hancock County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43 F (3.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.4 F (2.7 F above century average)
#6. Lake County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.6 F (2.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.3 F (3.3 F above century average)
#5. Wyandot County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.8 degrees Fahrenheit (3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43 F (3.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.7 F (2.7 F above century average)
#4. Portage County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51 degrees Fahrenheit (3.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.7 F (2.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.3 F (3.5 F above century average)
#3. Lucas County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.8 degrees Fahrenheit (3.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.3 F (3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.4 F (3.2 F above century average)
#2. Stark County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52 degrees Fahrenheit (3.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.9 F (3.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62 F (3 F above century average)
#1. Summit County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.7 F (3.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62 F (3.7 F above century average)
