A sign warning of extreme heat by Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona

Warmest states in America

Written by:
April 28, 2023
Updated on March 1, 2024
FMilano_Photography // Shutterstock

Warmest states in America

Globally, 2023 was the warmest year on record.

The planet's average temperature reached 2.45 F above the pre-industrial average. During the record year, Antarctic sea ice extent hit new lows, a busy Pacific hurricane season rocked the west coasts of the U.S. and Mexico, and Canadian wildfires hurt air quality for millions.

In the U.S., every state's meteorological temperature for 2023 was above their averages in the prior century.

Global warming is measured by land surface temperature, whereas air or meteorological temperature determines the daily weather forecast and how it will "feel" outside.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, surface temperatures are also increasing in the contiguous U.S. Since the late 1990s, these increases have become both more severe and more consistent. The surface temperature has increased every year in the 21st century thus far.

While 2023 was the warmest year on record for the planet, 2024 may yet surpass it. Record-breaking heat waves have scorched much of the United States throughout the summer thus far, bringing historically high temperatures to cities like Las Vegas and Raleigh. Even Death Valley, the hottest place in the U.S., set a new daily heat record when temps climbed to 127 degrees on July 5.

To find out how and where those heat waves break down, Stacker compiled data from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information and determined the warmest states based on their 2023 average temperatures. Each temperature is compared to the 1901-2000 average. Winter refers to December of the preceding year through February of the current year (e.g., in 1919, winter is December 1918 to February 1919), while summer refers to June through August of each year. All temperatures are listed in Fahrenheit, and data was not available for Hawaii.

Although the warmer climate of southern coastal states is often appealing, these regions also deal with meteorological phenomena—from droughts and floods to tropical storms and hurricanes—that can be devastating. Despite this, in recent years, Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas were the four states with the most significant population increase, which suggests a correlation between year-round warm temperatures; mild, short winters; and living preferences.

Read on to find out the temperatures in the warmest U.S. states, and see what the coldest states in America are here.

A river flowing through the Audra State Park near Buckhannon.
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Steve Heap // Shutterstock

#24. West Virginia

- Average temperature, 2023: 53.9 F (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 65.3 F (2.5 F above average)
- Average low: 42.6 F (2.3 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 69.4 F (0.7 F below average)
- Average winter temperature: 38.3 F (6.2 F above average)

Soybean fields in Indiana at sunset.
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#23. Indiana

- Average temperature, 2023: 54.4 F (3.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 65.0 F (3.0 F above average)
- Average low: 43.7 F (3.1 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 71.8 F (0.6 F below average)
- Average winter temperature: 35.5 F (6.7 F above average)

The crowded Chicago lakefront on a hot Memorial Day.
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Adriana.Macias // Shutterstock

#22. Illinois

- Average temperature, 2023: 54.8 F (3.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 65.3 F (3.2 F above average)
- Average low: 44.2 F (3.0 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 73.4 F (0.0 F below average)
- Average winter temperature: 33.7 F (5.6 F above average)

The desert in New Mexico on a dry day.
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#21. New Mexico

- Average temperature, 2023: 55.3 F (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 70.5 F (2.7 F above average)
- Average low: 40.2 F (2.2 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 74.3 F (3.4 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 36.7 F (1.4 F above average)

Bicycles on the Jersey Shore boardwalk during a sunny day.
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#20. New Jersey

- Average temperature, 2023: 55.4 F (3.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 65.5 F (3.9 F above average)
- Average low: 45.2 F (4.0 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 72.5 F (1.3 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 38.6 F (7.5 F above average)

Rural farm land in Kansas on a warm, clear-skied day.
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#19. Kansas

- Average temperature, 2023: 56.3 F (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 69.3 F (2.6 F above average)
- Average low: 43.3 F (1.7 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 76.8 F (0.3 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 32.9 F (1.6 F above average)

An aerial view of Ocean City during the summer.
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#18. Maryland

- Average temperature, 2023: 57.3 F (3.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 67.7 F (3.7 F above average)
- Average low: 46.9 F (3.4 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 74.1 F (1.1 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 40.4 F (6.6 F above average)

A canoe on a calm lake during a warm day.
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#17. Missouri

- Average temperature, 2023: 57.4 F (2.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 68.8 F (3.1 F above average)
- Average low: 46.0 F (2.7 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 76.1 F (0.6 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 36.8 F (4.7 F above average)

Waves crashing against the shores of Virginia Beach.
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#16. Virginia

- Average temperature, 2023: 57.5 F (2.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 68.7 F (2.8 F above average)
- Average low: 46.3 F (2.6 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 73.0 F (0.1 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 42.1 F (6.0 F above average)

Sunrise at Rehoboth Beach.
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#15. Delaware

- Average temperature, 2023: 57.8 F (3.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 67.8 F (3.6 F above average)
- Average low: 47.7 F (3.6 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 74.6 F (1.3 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 41.2 F (6.5 F above average)

A dramatic sunset on a countryside farm in Kentucky.
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Irina Mos // Shutterstock

#14. Kentucky

- Average temperature, 2023: 58.1 F (2.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 69.2 F (2.5 F above average)
- Average low: 46.9 F (2.7 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 74.0 F (0.6 F below average)
- Average winter temperature: 42.0 F (6.5 F above average)

Rock formations on the coast of California.
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#13. California

- Average temperature, 2023: 58.2 F (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 70.2 F (0.2 F above average)
- Average low: 46.2 F (1.4 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 73.8 F (1.6 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 42.9 F (0.6 F below average)

People swimming in the Wolf River to escape a heat wave in Memphis.
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DWBMedias // Shutterstock

#12. Tennessee

- Average temperature, 2023: 59.9 F (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 71.1 F (1.9 F above average)
- Average low: 48.8 F (2.7 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 75.2 F (0.5 F below average)
- Average winter temperature: 44.8 F (5.9 F above average)

Homes on the coast of North Carolina.
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#11. North Carolina

- Average temperature, 2023: 60.7 F (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 71.9 F (2.0 F above average)
- Average low: 49.6 F (2.4 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 75.6 F (0.2 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 46.5 F (5.4 F above average)

A desert in Arizona with cacti in the foreground.
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#10. Arizona

- Average temperature, 2023: 60.7 F (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 75.0 F (1.5 F above average)
- Average low: 46.5 F (1.2 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 79.4 F (2.1 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 41.7 F (0.6 F below average)

An aerial view of Tucker Tower on Lake Murray in Ardmore with a houseboat in the distance on a summer day.
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Liberty Drone Imaging LLC // Shutterstock

#9. Oklahoma

- Average temperature, 2023: 61.8 F (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 74.3 F (2.5 F above average)
- Average low: 49.4 F (1.8 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 80.8 F (1.0 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 42.1 F (3.2 F above average)

A waterfall at Hot Springs National Park.
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Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#8. Arkansas

- Average temperature, 2023: 62.9 F (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 73.9 F (2.2 F above average)
- Average low: 51.9 F (2.7 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 79.9 F (1.2 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 46.1 F (4.7 F above average)

A sunny day at Myrtle Beach.
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#7. South Carolina

- Average temperature, 2023: 64.2 F (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 75.4 F (1.4 F above average)
- Average low: 53.1 F (2.3 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 78.7 F (0.1 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 50.9 F (5.2 F above average)

The coastline of Gulf Shores.
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#6. Alabama

- Average temperature, 2023: 65.4 F (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 76.8 F (1.9 F above average)
- Average low: 54.0 F (2.8 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 80.0 F (1.1 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 52.4 F (5.8 F above average)

A Georgia beach with a lighthouse in the background on a summer day.
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#5. Georgia

- Average temperature, 2023: 65.7 F (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 77.1 F (2.1 F above average)
- Average low: 54.1 F (2.5 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 79.7 F (1.0 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 53.0 F (5.7 F above average)

Boats for shrimp fishing in Pass Christian.
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travelview // Shutterstock

#4. Mississippi

- Average temperature, 2023: 66.7 F (3.0 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 78.1 F (2.8 F above average)
- Average low: 55.2 F (3.2 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 82.0 F (2.2 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 52.8 F (6.0 F above average)

A desert in Texas with mountains in the background.
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#3. Texas

- Average temperature, 2023: 68.0 F (3.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 80.6 F (3.5 F above average)
- Average low: 55.5 F (3.3 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 85.3 F (4.0 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 51.2 F (3.9 F above average)

A sunny day at the Louisiana State Capitol.
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#2. Louisiana

- Average temperature, 2023: 69.6 F (3.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 80.2 F (3.1 F above average)
- Average low: 59.0 F (3.4 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 84.9 F (3.8 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 56.1 F (5.2 F above average)

Palm trees along the coast of the Florida Keys.
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#1. Florida

- Average temperature, 2023: 73.4 F (3.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- Average high: 83.6 F (2.7 F above average)
- Average low: 63.1 F (3.7 F above average)
- Average summer temperature: 83.2 F (2.7 F above average)
- Average winter temperature: 63.7 F (5.0 F above average)

Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Paris Close.

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