Special Report

How Global Warming Is Affecting Every State

YouraPechkin / Getty Images

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

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]

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)

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)

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]

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)

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]

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)

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)

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]

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)

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]

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)

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)

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]

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)

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]

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)

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)

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]

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)

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]

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)

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)

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]

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)

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]

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)

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)

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]

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)

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]

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)

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)

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]

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)

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]

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)

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)

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]

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)

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]

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)

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)

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]

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)

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]

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)

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)

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)

Sponsored: Attention Savvy Investors: Speak to 3 Financial Experts – FREE

Ever wanted an extra set of eyes on an investment you’re considering? Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply
clicking here
you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help guide you through the financial decisions you’re making. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.


Click here
to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.