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 South Carolina 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.
Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 47#46. Bamberg County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #19 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.3 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.8 F (1.1 F above century average)
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 47#45. Oconee County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 60.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #17 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 49.8 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 71.8 F (1 F above century average)
#44. Georgetown County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.3 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.1 F (1.4 F above century average)
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 47#43. Fairfield County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.9 F (1.2 F above century average)
#42. Chester County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 50.7 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.2 F (1.4 F above century average)
#41. Union County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 50.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.1 F (1.4 F above century average)
Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons
8 / 47#40. Laurens County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.4 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.3 F (1.8 F above century average)
Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 47#39. Barnwell County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.4 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.2 F (1.7 F above century average)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 47#38. Orangeburg County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.1 F (1.5 F above century average)
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 47#37. Allendale County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.7 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.6 F (1.9 F above century average)
Morder // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 47#36. Cherokee County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 49.2 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 73.5 F (2 F above century average)
NatalieMaynor // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 47#35. Newberry County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.7 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.3 F (1.8 F above century average)
Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 47#34. Greenwood County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.5 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.8 F (1.7 F above century average)
Pollinator // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 47#33. Horry County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.1 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.4 F (1.4 F above century average)
#32. Richland County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.2 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.2 F (1.7 F above century average)
Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 47#31. Calhoun County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.9 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.9 F (1.7 F above century average)
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 47#30. Clarendon County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.9 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.8 F (1.4 F above century average)
Pollinator // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 47#29. Williamsburg County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.6 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.1 F (1.5 F above century average)
Connor401 // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 47#28. York County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 49.9 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74 F (2.3 F above century average)
Farrargirl // Wikimedia Commons
21 / 47#27. McCormick County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.4 F (2.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.9 F (1.3 F above century average)
Pollinator // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 47#26. Sumter County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.7 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.2 F (1.6 F above century average)
KudzuVine // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 47#25. Pickens County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 50.5 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 72 F (1.7 F above century average)
#24. Spartanburg County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 50.6 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 73.1 F (1.9 F above century average)
Calatayudboy // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 47#23. Lancaster County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 50.4 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.5 F (2.2 F above century average)
Brian Scott // Wikimedia Commons
26 / 47#22. Abbeville County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.3 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.4 F (1.9 F above century average)
Pollinator // Wikimedia Commons
27 / 47#21. Kershaw County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.3 F (1.8 F above century average)
Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons
28 / 47#20. Saluda County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.6 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.6 F (1.7 F above century average)
Itsbrandoyo // Wikimedia Commons
29 / 47#19. Berkeley County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (2.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.4 F (1.6 F above century average)
Lazyksaw // Wikimedia Commons
30 / 47#18. Dorchester County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.8 F (2.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.7 F (1.6 F above century average)
Ralph Hightower // Wikimedia Commons
31 / 47#17. Lexington County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.4 F (2.2 F above century average)
ProfReader // Wikimedia Commons
32 / 47#16. Marion County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.7 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.5 F (1.9 F above century average)
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 47#15. Colleton County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.7 F (1.9 F above century average)
Ffuhr // Wikimedia Commons
34 / 47#14. Hampton County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.9 F (2.1 F above century average)
#13. Greenville County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 50.7 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 72.3 F (2.4 F above century average)
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons
36 / 47#12. Chesterfield County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.8 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75 F (2.2 F above century average)
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons
37 / 47#11. Edgefield County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.2 F (3.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.5 F (1.3 F above century average)
Festiva76 // Wikimedia Commons
38 / 47#10. Aiken County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54 F (2.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.7 F (1.7 F above century average)
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons
39 / 47#9. Anderson County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.8 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 73.9 F (2.4 F above century average)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 47#8. Lee County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.1 F (2.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.1 F (2.2 F above century average)
Robert Thomas Mckenzie Jr // Wikimedia Commons
41 / 47#7. Florence County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.6 F (2.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77 F (2.3 F above century average)
#6. Charleston County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 57.2 F (3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.1 F (1.9 F above century average)
Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons
43 / 47#5. Jasper County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 56.4 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.7 F (2.7 F above century average)
Jud McCranie // Wikimedia Commons
44 / 47#4. Darlington County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.1 F (2.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.3 F (2.6 F above century average)
Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons
45 / 47#3. Marlboro County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.9 F (2.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.1 F (2.6 F above century average)
Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons
46 / 47#2. Dillon County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.3 F (3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.4 F (2.3 F above century average)
#1. Beaufort County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 68.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 58.7 F (2.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.2 F (2.9 F above century average)
