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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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 Iowa 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. Calhoun County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.7 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #44 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 35.8 F (0.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.6 F (1.6 F above century average)
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#49. Guthrie County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #44 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.1 F (0.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.9 F (1.5 F above century average)
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#48. Jasper County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #40 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.1 F (0.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.7 F (1.3 F above century average)
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#47. Madison County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.1 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #40 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.3 F (0.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.9 F (1.4 F above century average)
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#46. Wapello County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.8 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #39 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.4 F (0 F below century average)
- Recent average high: 62.2 F (1.5 F above century average)
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#45. Black Hawk County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #41 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.4 F (0.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.6 F (1.4 F above century average)
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#44. Greene County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #41 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.9 F (0.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.2 F (1.3 F above century average)
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#43. Jackson County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #36 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.4 F (0.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.7 F (1.2 F above century average)
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#41. Dallas County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.7 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #42 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.1 F (0.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.3 F (1.2 F above century average)
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#40. Keokuk County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #34 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.4 F (0 F below century average)
- Recent average high: 61.5 F (1.9 F above century average)
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#39. Mahaska County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.2 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #39 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.5 F (-0.2 F below century average)
- Recent average high: 62 F (2 F above century average)
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#38. Louisa County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.8 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #37 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.1 F (0.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.4 F (1.1 F above century average)
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#37. Dickinson County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #44 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 34.4 F (1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 56.5 F (0.9 F above century average)
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#36. Osceola County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #43 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 34.4 F (1.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 56.8 F (0.8 F above century average)
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#35. Jones County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #39 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.8 F (0.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.6 F (1.1 F above century average)
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#34. Boone County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #36 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.1 F (0.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.3 F (1.6 F above century average)
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#33. Poweshiek County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #37 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.5 F (0.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.5 F (1.6 F above century average)
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#32. Adair County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #37 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.1 F (0 F below century average)
- Recent average high: 61.8 F (2 F above century average)
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#31. Cass County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #34 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.6 F (0.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.9 F (1.8 F above century average)
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#30. Winneshiek County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #39 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 34.9 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 55.7 F (0.7 F above century average)
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#29. O'Brien County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #39 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 34.9 F (0.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.2 F (1.4 F above century average)
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#28. Buena Vista County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #39 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 35.7 F (0.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.3 F (1.4 F above century average)
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#27. Audubon County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #35 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.7 F (0.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.6 F (1.8 F above century average)
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#26. Montgomery County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #33 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.5 F (0.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.1 F (2.1 F above century average)
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#25. Clay County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #42 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 35 F (1.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 57.6 F (1.2 F above century average)
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#24. Union County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #31 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.2 F (0.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.4 F (2 F above century average)
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#23. Mills County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #32 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.2 F (-0.1 F below century average)
- Recent average high: 63.7 F (2.4 F above century average)
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#22. Fremont County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #32 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.8 F (0.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 64.5 F (2.3 F above century average)
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#21. Lyon County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #34 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 34.6 F (1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.2 F (1.5 F above century average)
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#20. Cherokee County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #33 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 35.4 F (0.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.3 F (2.2 F above century average)
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#19. Clinton County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #30 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.4 F (1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60 F (1.6 F above century average)
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#18. Adams County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #31 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.9 F (0.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.4 F above century average)
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#17. Pottawattamie County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #31 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.6 F (0.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
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#16. Clarke County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #27 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.6 F (0.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.2 F (1.7 F above century average)
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#15. Page County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #31 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.4 F (0.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
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#14. Sioux County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #29 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 35.2 F (0.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.4 F (2 F above century average)
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#13. Shelby County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #28 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.3 F (0.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.5 F (2.2 F above century average)
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#12. Decatur County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #29 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.9 F (0.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.1 F above century average)
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#11. Ida County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #26 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.4 F (0.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.1 F (2.3 F above century average)
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#10. Carroll County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #29 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.6 F (0.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.7 F (2.3 F above century average)
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#9. Scott County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #26 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.2 F (1.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
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#8. Ringgold County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #28 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.3 F (0.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
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#7. Sac County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #25 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.4 F (1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60 F (2.2 F above century average)
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#6. Woodbury County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #27 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.6 F (0.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.3 F (2.7 F above century average)
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#5. Taylor County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #27 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.1 F (0.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.2 F (2.5 F above century average)
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#4. Plymouth County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #22 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 35.8 F (0.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.7 F (2.9 F above century average)
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#3. Monona County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #23 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.2 F (0.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 62.5 F (3.2 F above century average)
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#2. Harrison County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #23 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.1 F (0.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.2 F (3.2 F above century average)
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#1. Crawford County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #19 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.8 F (1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.5 F (3 F above century average)
