The effects of climate change are already upon us. Much of the globe is experiencing abnormal temperatures and anomalous weather patterns. The Pacific Northwest saw an intense summer heat dome in a part of the world where summers are normally so mild that most people don’t even have air conditioners.
Small changes in average temperature may not seem to matter much, but they can have drastic effects on water supply and the ability to grow crops, increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, and leading to desertification in many once arable parts of the world. (These are the hottest inhabited places on earth.)
Meanwhile, melting polar ice means rising sea levels, which threatens the many millions of people who live near the coast. (Here are 25 cities where rising seas could leave millions homeless.)
Rising temperatures also precipitate natural disasters of various kinds. Natural disasters have always occurred on the planet, of course, but shifting climate patterns can make them much more frequent and severe. Forest fires are on the rise, for instance, and hurricanes have been more intense.
This year’s Hurricane Ida, for instance, made landfall in Louisiana and traveled all the way north to New Jersey, causing massive flooding along the way in areas that rarely if ever experience the effects of such storms. Many other places have also struggled as they experience catastrophic weather events for the first time.
To determine which states recorded the most unusual temperatures this year, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information. States were ranked based on the absolute difference between the average temperature in September 2021 and the historical average temperature for September from 1901 to 2000. Supplemental data used to determine the hottest and coldest average September temperatures on record also came from the NCEI, which maintains records dating back to 1895. (Data for Hawaii was not available.)
Click here to see how global warming is affecting every state
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
49. South Carolina
> Average temperature, September 2021: 73.6°F (-0.1°F below average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 73.7°F
> Hottest September on record: 1925 (81.4°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1967 (67.7°F)
[in-text-ad]
Source: maxmironov / Getty Images
48. Mississippi
> Average temperature, September 2021: 75.0°F (-0.1°F below average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 75.1°F
> Hottest September on record: 1925 (82.7°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1967 (69.8°F)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
47. Kentucky
> Average temperature, September 2021: 68.9°F (0.3°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 68.6°F
> Hottest September on record: 1925 (76.0°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (62.0°F)
Source: Jaimie Tuchman / Getty Images
46. Louisiana
> Average temperature, September 2021: 76.8°F (-0.4°F below average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 77.2°F
> Hottest September on record: 2019 (82.2°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (72.9°F)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
45. Tennessee
> Average temperature, September 2021: 69.7°F (-0.5°F below average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 70.2°F
> Hottest September on record: 1925 (78.8°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (64.4°F)
Source: RickSause / Getty Images
44. North Carolina
> Average temperature, September 2021: 70.9°F (0.6°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 70.3°F
> Hottest September on record: 1921 (76.7°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1967 (64.6°F)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
43. Georgia
> Average temperature, September 2021: 73.8°F (-0.7°F below average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 74.5°F
> Hottest September on record: 1925 (83.0°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1967 (69.0°F)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: marchello74 / Getty Images
42. Florida
> Average temperature, September 2021: 79.9°F (0.8°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 79.1°F
> Hottest September on record: 2018 (82.4°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (76.7°F)
Source: BlazenImages / Getty Images
41. Alabama
> Average temperature, September 2021: 73.8°F (-0.9°F below average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 74.7°F
> Hottest September on record: 1925 (83.1°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1967 (68.8°F)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
40. West Virginia
> Average temperature, September 2021: 65.5°F (1.1°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 64.4°F
> Hottest September on record: 2018 (70.4°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (59.2°F)
Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
39. Washington
> Average temperature, September 2021: 58.0°F (1.1°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 56.9°F
> Hottest September on record: 1967 (62.3°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1895 (51.0°F)
[in-text-ad]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
38. Arkansas
> Average temperature, September 2021: 74.0°F (1.2°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 72.8°F
> Hottest September on record: 1925 (79.8°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1974 (66.0°F)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: sorincolac / Getty Images
37. Alaska
> Average temperature, September 2021: 39.3°F (-1.3°F below average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 40.6°F
> Hottest September on record: 1995 (45.9°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1992 (31.6°F)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
36. Virginia
> Average temperature, September 2021: 68.6°F (1.5°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 67.1°F
> Hottest September on record: 1921 (73.0°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (62.1°F)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: 4nadia / Getty Images
35. Oregon
> Average temperature, September 2021: 59.4°F (2.1°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 57.3°F
> Hottest September on record: 2020 (62.7°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1895 (51.5°F)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
34. Texas
> Average temperature, September 2021: 78.3°F (2.4°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 75.9°F
> Hottest September on record: 2019 (81.5°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1974 (69.1°F)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
33. Ohio
> Average temperature, September 2021: 67.0°F (2.5°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 64.5°F
> Hottest September on record: 2019 (69.8°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (57.4°F)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
32. Pennsylvania
> Average temperature, September 2021: 64.3°F (2.6°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 61.7°F
> Hottest September on record: 1961 (67.1°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (56.8°F)
Source: mattalberts / Getty Images
31. Idaho
> Average temperature, September 2021: 57.3°F (2.6°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 54.7°F
> Hottest September on record: 1990 (61.7°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1912 (48.6°F)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Dreamframer / Getty Images
30. Arizona
> Average temperature, September 2021: 74.7°F (2.7°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 72.0°F
> Hottest September on record: 2018 (76.0°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1912 (67.4°F)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
29. Maryland
> Average temperature, September 2021: 69.8°F (2.8°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 67.0°F
> Hottest September on record: 2018 (72.7°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1917 (62.0°F)
[in-text-ad]
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
28. Indiana
> Average temperature, September 2021: 68.5°F (2.8°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 65.7°F
> Hottest September on record: 1925 (71.9°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (58.0°F)
Source: Eloi_Omella / Getty Images
27. New York
> Average temperature, September 2021: 61.8°F (2.9°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 58.9°F
> Hottest September on record: 1961 (65.8°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (54.0°F)
Source: ehrlif / Getty Images
26. Michigan
> Average temperature, September 2021: 61.4°F (2.9°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 58.5°F
> Hottest September on record: 2015 (64.6°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (51.8°F)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Ron_Thomas / Getty Images
25. Wisconsin
> Average temperature, September 2021: 61.2°F (3.2°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 58.0°F
> Hottest September on record: 2015 (64.7°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (51.8°F)
Source: JTGrafix / Getty Images
24. Missouri
> Average temperature, September 2021: 71.4°F (3.2°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 68.2°F
> Hottest September on record: 1931 (74.8°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1974 (61.4°F)
[in-text-ad]
Source: dszc / Getty Images
23. Illinois
> Average temperature, September 2021: 69.6°F (3.4°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 66.2°F
> Hottest September on record: 1925 (72.2°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (58.9°F)
Source: Milosz_G / Getty Images
22. Oklahoma
> Average temperature, September 2021: 76.6°F (3.5°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 73.1°F
> Hottest September on record: 1931 (80.1°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1974 (64.7°F)
Source: Harry Collins / Getty Images
21. Delaware
> Average temperature, September 2021: 71.0°F (3.6°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 67.4°F
> Hottest September on record: 2018 (73.6°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1917 (62.4°F)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
20. New Mexico
> Average temperature, September 2021: 68.2°F (3.7°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 64.5°F
> Hottest September on record: 2015 (69.0°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1913 (60.3°F)
Source: LarryLindell / Getty Images
19. Iowa
> Average temperature, September 2021: 66.7°F (3.7°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 63.0°F
> Hottest September on record: 1897 (70.0°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1896 (57.4°F)
[in-text-ad]
Source: choness / Getty Images
18. California
> Average temperature, September 2021: 72.2°F (3.7°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 68.5°F
> Hottest September on record: 2020 (74.0°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1986 (63.5°F)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
17. Vermont
> Average temperature, September 2021: 59.8°F (3.8°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 56.0°F
> Hottest September on record: 1961 (63.6°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1918 (52.1°F)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
16. New Jersey
> Average temperature, September 2021: 68.8°F (3.8°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 65.0°F
> Hottest September on record: 1961 (70.8°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1917 (60.2°F)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: gchapel / Getty Images
15. Nevada
> Average temperature, September 2021: 65.5°F (3.8°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 61.7°F
> Hottest September on record: 2009 (66.7°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1900 (56.2°F)
Source: CodyHaskell / Getty Images
14. Utah
> Average temperature, September 2021: 64.5°F (3.9°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 60.6°F
> Hottest September on record: 2018 (65.8°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1912 (53.7°F)
[in-text-ad]
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
13. Connecticut
> Average temperature, September 2021: 65.4°F (3.9°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 61.5°F
> Hottest September on record: 2015 (67.8°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1917 (57.3°F)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
12. New Hampshire
> Average temperature, September 2021: 60.5°F (4.0°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 56.5°F
> Hottest September on record: 1961 (64.0°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1956 (52.6°F)
Source: sara_winter / Getty Images
11. Maine
> Average temperature, September 2021: 59.1°F (4.2°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 54.9°F
> Hottest September on record: 2015 (61.8°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1904 (51.1°F)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
10. Massachusetts
> Average temperature, September 2021: 64.9°F (4.5°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 60.4°F
> Hottest September on record: 1961 (66.3°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1917 (56.1°F)
Source: ricardoreitmeyer / Getty Images
9. Kansas
> Average temperature, September 2021: 73.1°F (4.5°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 68.6°F
> Hottest September on record: 1931 (76.7°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1974 (61.7°F)
[in-text-ad]
Source: aoldman / Getty Images
8. Wyoming
> Average temperature, September 2021: 58.2°F (4.6°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 53.6°F
> Hottest September on record: 1998 (59.9°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1965 (44.6°F)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
7. Rhode Island
> Average temperature, September 2021: 66.5°F (4.6°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 61.9°F
> Hottest September on record: 2015 (67.6°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1917 (57.5°F)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
6. Nebraska
> Average temperature, September 2021: 67.4°F (4.6°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 62.8°F
> Hottest September on record: 1931 (69.6°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1965 (54.2°F)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Tashka / Getty Images
5. Montana
> Average temperature, September 2021: 58.5°F (4.7°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 53.8°F
> Hottest September on record: 1998 (61.4°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1965 (43.6°F)
Source: RudyBalasko / Getty Images
4. Minnesota
> Average temperature, September 2021: 61.6°F (4.8°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 56.8°F
> Hottest September on record: 2015 (63.8°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1965 (49.1°F)
[in-text-ad]
Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images
3. South Dakota
> Average temperature, September 2021: 65.2°F (5.0°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 60.2°F
> Hottest September on record: 1897 (67.7°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1965 (49.6°F)
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
2. Colorado
> Average temperature, September 2021: 62.5°F (5.2°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 57.3°F
> Hottest September on record: 2019 (62.9°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1912 (51.0°F)
Source: gabetcarlson / Getty Images
1. North Dakota
> Average temperature, September 2021: 62.2°F (5.9°F above average)
> Average September temperature, 1901-2000: 56.3°F
> Hottest September on record: 1897 (63.5°F)
> Coldest September on record: 1965 (45.4°F)
Essential Tips for Investing: Sponsored
A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
