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 Washington 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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#39. Lincoln County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #55 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 34.4 F (0.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.4 F (0.1 F above century average)
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#38. Stevens County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 44.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #57 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 33.7 F (0.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 55 F (0.3 F above century average)
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#37. San Juan County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.2 degrees Fahrenheit (0.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #43 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.6 F (0.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 57.8 F (0.5 F above century average)
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#36. Ferry County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 42.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #48 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 31.8 F (0.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 53.3 F (0.6 F above century average)
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#35. Douglas County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #46 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.8 F (0.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.3 F (0.3 F above century average)
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#34. Grant County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.1 degrees Fahrenheit (0.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #45 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.4 F (0.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.8 F (0.3 F above century average)
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#33. Grays Harbor County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50 degrees Fahrenheit (0.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #32 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.9 F (0.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59 F (0.9 F above century average)
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#32. Island County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.7 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #34 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.8 F (0.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.5 F (0.6 F above century average)
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#31. Pend Oreille County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 42.3 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #40 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 32.2 F (0.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 52.4 F (1.1 F above century average)
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#30. Adams County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.3 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #37 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.5 F (1.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.1 F (0.4 F above century average)
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#29. Jefferson County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #28 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.9 F (0.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 53.8 F (1.1 F above century average)
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#28. Skagit County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #27 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.4 F (1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 54 F (1.1 F above century average)
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#27. Snohomish County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #26 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.1 F (0.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 54.3 F (1.1 F above century average)
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#26. Clallam County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #30 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40 F (0.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 55.2 F (1.2 F above century average)
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#25. Mason County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #25 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.3 F (0.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.2 F (1.2 F above century average)
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#24. Benton County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #36 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.4 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.9 F (0.5 F above century average)
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#23. Okanogan County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 43 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #31 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 33.5 F (1.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 52.5 F (0.8 F above century average)
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#22. Thurston County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #22 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.8 F (0.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.1 F (1.4 F above century average)
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#21. Walla Walla County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #31 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.4 F (1.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.6 F (0.7 F above century average)
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#20. Whatcom County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #29 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.7 F (1.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 52.5 F (1.1 F above century average)
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#19. Kitsap County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #25 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43.4 F (1.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.2 F (1.1 F above century average)
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#18. Chelan County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 43.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #25 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 34.6 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 52.4 F (1 F above century average)
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#17. Franklin County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #26 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.7 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 63.5 F (0.7 F above century average)
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#16. Columbia County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #27 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.3 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58 F (0.8 F above century average)
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#15. Pacific County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #21 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.1 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.6 F (1.1 F above century average)
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#14. Kittitas County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #23 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 55.5 F (1 F above century average)
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#13. Pierce County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #20 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 55.8 F (1.2 F above century average)
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#12. King County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #21 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 40.8 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 56.1 F (1.3 F above century average)
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#11. Clark County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #22 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 43 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 61.7 F (1.3 F above century average)
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#10. Spokane County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #19 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.8 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
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#9. Whitman County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #22 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.3 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.8 F (1.4 F above century average)
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#8. Yakima County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #20 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 36.6 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 57.9 F (1.2 F above century average)
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#7. Garfield County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #23 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.4 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.2 F (1.4 F above century average)
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#6. Wahkiakum County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #19 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 42.1 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.7 F (1.5 F above century average)
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#5. Asotin County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #23 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 37.8 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60 F (1.6 F above century average)
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#4. Klickitat County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #20 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.1 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 60.3 F (2.1 F above century average)
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#3. Cowlitz County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #14 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 41.5 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 59.8 F (2 F above century average)
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#2. Lewis County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 39.6 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 58 F (2 F above century average)
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#1. Skamania County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 38.4 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 55 F (2.2 F above century average)
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