Counties in Pennsylvania with the fastest-rising temperatures in the last 100 years

Written by:
January 3, 2023
Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

Counties in Pennsylvania 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.

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Stacker

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 Pennsylvania 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.

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#50. Tioga County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #21 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 35.7 F (1.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.3 F (2.3 F above century average)
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#49. Clinton County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #15 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.7 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.4 F (2.1 F above century average)
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Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Venango County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #23 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.8 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.6 F (2.3 F above century average)
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Pubdog // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Clearfield County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #13 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.9 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.6 F (2.2 F above century average)
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#46. Clarion County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #16 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.7 F (1.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.3 F (2.4 F above century average)
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Canadian2006 // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Bedford County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.1 F above century average)
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Joe Calzarette // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Huntingdon County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.8 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.7 F (2.3 F above century average)
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Juniata County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.7 F (2.2 F above century average)
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#42. Franklin County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #17 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.9 F (2.3 F above century average)
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User:Ruhrfisch // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Lycoming County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #13 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.2 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.1 F (2.4 F above century average)
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#40. Mercer County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #18 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.6 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.2 F (2.4 F above century average)
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Ruhrfisch (talk) // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Union County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.5 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.4 F (2.3 F above century average)
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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Snyder County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #13 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.4 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62 F (2.3 F above century average)
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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Fulton County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.3 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 64 F (2.3 F above century average)
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Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Susquehanna County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #13 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.1 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.4 F (2.6 F above century average)
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Forest County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.9 F (1.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.3 F (2.9 F above century average)
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Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Potter County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.4 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.4 F (2.5 F above century average)
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Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Crawford County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.3 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.1 F (2.7 F above century average)
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Ruhrfisch (talk) // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Columbia County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.5 F (2.3 F above century average)
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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Montour County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.6 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.8 F (2.4 F above century average)
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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Perry County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.8 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.6 F above century average)
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Pixabay

#29. Adams County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.8 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 64 F (2.3 F above century average)
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Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Warren County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.5 F (2.7 F above century average)
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Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Cameron County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.3 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.8 F (2.4 F above century average)
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#26. Erie County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.4 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.6 F (2.6 F above century average)
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#25. Cumberland County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.1 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.9 F (2.7 F above century average)
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Andrew Rodland // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Wayne County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.7 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.7 F (3 F above century average)
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#23. Pike County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.5 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.2 F (3 F above century average)
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Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Monroe County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.8 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.1 F (2.7 F above century average)
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Michael J // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Wyoming County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.4 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.1 F (2.8 F above century average)
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#20. Luzerne County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.8 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59 F (2.6 F above century average)
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#19. Carbon County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.8 F (2.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.3 F (2.2 F above century average)
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Jakec // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Schuylkill County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #12 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.8 F (2.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.4 F (2.3 F above century average)
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Publichall // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Northumberland County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.3 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.7 F (2.5 F above century average)
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Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Jefferson County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49 degrees Fahrenheit (2.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.9 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60 F (3 F above century average)
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Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Berks County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.6 F (2.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.8 F (2.7 F above century average)
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Camerafiend // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Chester County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 54.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #13 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.6 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 64.6 F (2.8 F above century average)
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#13. Elk County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.4 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.3 F (3.1 F above century average)
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Daderot // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Lancaster County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 54 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.3 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 64.7 F (3.1 F above century average)
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#11. Lackawanna County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.4 F (2.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59 F (3.4 F above century average)
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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Lehigh County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.8 degrees Fahrenheit (3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.7 F (3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.7 F (2.9 F above century average)
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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Delaware County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 56 degrees Fahrenheit (3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 46.2 F (2.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 65.9 F (3.3 F above century average)
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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Lebanon County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.3 degrees Fahrenheit (3.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.3 F (3.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.3 F (3.1 F above century average)
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#7. York County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 54.2 degrees Fahrenheit (3.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.8 F (3.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 64.6 F (2.9 F above century average)
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Nicholas from Pennsylvania, USA // Wikimedia Commons

#6. McKean County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.7 degrees Fahrenheit (3.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.8 F (3.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.6 F (3.1 F above century average)
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Shuvaev // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Northampton County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52 degrees Fahrenheit (3.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.7 F (3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.3 F (3.4 F above century average)
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Rina Pitucci // Flickr

#4. Dauphin County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.6 F (3.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.1 F (3.1 F above century average)
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Douglas Muth // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Montgomery County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 54.8 degrees Fahrenheit (3.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 44.4 F (3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 65.2 F (3.3 F above century average)
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Michael Barera // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Philadelphia County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 56.6 degrees Fahrenheit (3.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 46.7 F (2.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 66.5 F (3.9 F above century average)
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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Bucks County

- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 54.3 degrees Fahrenheit (3.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.6 F (3.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 64.9 F (3.6 F above century average)

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