Are summers in the United States hotter than ever before? The answer appears to be yes, as most U.S. cities experienced higher summer temperatures in 2021 than in the past 50 years. And some of these places have the hottest summers in the nation.
Multiple cities in the South set new high temperature records this year, while the northern Plains and Midwest experienced a heat dome, bringing temperatures over 101 degrees to some locales. A heat dome traps heat over land, and last summer, such a phenomena was responsible for the unusually high temperatures that killed 112 people in Washington state.
To determine the 50 cities with the hottest summers, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed climate data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Cities were ranked based on the average summer temperature from 1991 to 2020 – the climate normal. We aggregated temperature and precipitation data from weather stations in the Global Historical Climatology Network. Only cities with at least 150,000 residents were considered. Population data came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.
Most U.S. cities with the hottest summers are in the South. Over 25% are in Texas, with Laredo hitting an average summer temperature of 88.3 degrees Fahrenheit, ranking as Texas’ highest ranking city on the list, at No. 7. Eight cities on the list are in Florida, while Alabama and Arizona are home to four cities each. There are also three cities in Nevada among those with the hottest summers, and these three rank among the top five hottest cities.
High temperatures don’t necessarily hamper large populations. The most populous city on the list is Houston at No. 13, with a total population over 2 million. Houston’s average summer temperature is 84.4°F. Houston’s year-round average temperature is 70.7°F. Other well-populated cities include San Antonio and Phoenix. (For average year-round temperatures in these cities see, the 50 warmest cities in America.)
Some of the hottest cities are also drier, with minimal rainfall. Four cities on the list have an average annual precipitation in the single digits — less than 10 inches a year. Three of these are in Nevada, a state that is experiencing severe drought with 2022 being the third driest in 128 years. (Here are the states with the worst drought.)
In fact, the city on the list with the lowest annual precipitation, 4.2 inches, also has the No. 1 hottest summer: Paradise, Nevada. Average summer temperatures in Paradise reach 90.8°F, but this scorching heat does not stop visitors. Within the boundaries of Paradise are some of the most well-known landmarks on the Las Vegas strip.
Click here to see the American cities with the hottest summer
50. Kansas City, Missouri
> Avg. summer temperature: 77.6°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 55.8°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 40.3 in.
> Total population: 491,158
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Source: sarahgerrity / iStock via Getty Images
49. Chesapeake, Virginia
> Avg. summer temperature: 77.7°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 60.4°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 51.4 in.
> Total population: 242,647
Source: ferrantraite / E+ via Getty Images
48. Norfolk, Virginia
> Avg. summer temperature: 78.3°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 61.0°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 49.6 in.
> Total population: 244,300
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
47. Charlotte, North Carolina
> Avg. summer temperature: 78.4°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 61.4°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 43.7 in.
> Total population: 873,570
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
46. Raleigh, North Carolina
> Avg. summer temperature: 78.6°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 61.1°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 48.7 in.
> Total population: 469,698
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
45. Wichita, Kansas
> Avg. summer temperature: 78.8°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 57.3°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 35.1 in.
> Total population: 390,566
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
44. St. Louis, Missouri
> Avg. summer temperature: 78.8°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 58.0°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 43.8 in.
> Total population: 304,709
Source: Art Wager / iStock via Getty Images
43. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
> Avg. summer temperature: 78.8°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 76.0°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 71.5 in.
> Total population: 347,181
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
42. Arlington, Virginia
> Avg. summer temperature: 78.9°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 59.3°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 41.8 in.
> Total population: 236,434
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
41. Chattanooga, Tennessee
> Avg. summer temperature: 79.4°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 61.9°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 57.7 in.
> Total population: 181,370
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
40. Fayetteville, North Carolina
> Avg. summer temperature: 79.5°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 62.5°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 46.3 in.
> Total population: 211,201
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
39. Lubbock, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 79.9°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 61.6°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 19.1 in.
> Total population: 257,013
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
38. Little Rock, Arkansas
> Avg. summer temperature: 80.1°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 61.7°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 52.7 in.
> Total population: 198,067
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
37. Huntsville, Alabama
> Avg. summer temperature: 80.1°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 62.9°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 57.6 in.
> Total population: 199,845
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
36. Birmingham, Alabama
> Avg. summer temperature: 80.3°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 63.9°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 56.9 in.
> Total population: 210,928
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
35. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
> Avg. summer temperature: 80.5°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 60.8°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 36.4 in.
> Total population: 649,821
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
34. Columbus, Georgia
> Avg. summer temperature: 80.8°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 65.2°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 50.3 in.
> Total population: 195,418
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
33. Macon-Bibb County, Georgia
> Avg. summer temperature: 81.2°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 65.4°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 49.1 in.
> Total population: 153,026
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
32. Tulsa, Oklahoma
> Avg. summer temperature: 81.4°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 61.4°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 43.1 in.
> Total population: 402,441
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
31. Jackson, Mississippi
> Avg. summer temperature: 81.5°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 65.7°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 55.7 in.
> Total population: 163,778
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
30. Jacksonville, Florida
> Avg. summer temperature: 81.7°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 69.7°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 52.8 in.
> Total population: 902,488
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
29. Montgomery, Alabama
> Avg. summer temperature: 81.9°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 66.4°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 52.9 in.
> Total population: 199,054
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
28. Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), Georgia
> Avg. summer temperature: 82.0°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 66.3°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 44.4 in.
> Total population: 197,535
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
27. Tallahassee, Florida
> Avg. summer temperature: 82.0°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 68.2°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 58.5 in.
> Total population: 192,885
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
26. Mobile, Alabama
> Avg. summer temperature: 82.1°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 68.4°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 67.7 in.
> Total population: 189,994
Source: NAPA74 / iStock via Getty Images
25. Hollywood, Florida
> Avg. summer temperature: 82.5°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 76.1°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 65.0 in.
> Total population: 153,834
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Source: AlizadaStudios / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
24. McKinney, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 82.6°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 65.0°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 40.4 in.
> Total population: 191,197
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
23. Orlando, Florida
> Avg. summer temperature: 82.6°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 73.4°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 54.1 in.
> Total population: 284,817
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
22. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
> Avg. summer temperature: 83.1°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 76.5°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 63.2 in.
> Total population: 181,818
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
21. St. Petersburg, Florida
> Avg. summer temperature: 83.6°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 74.6°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 53.2 in.
> Total population: 264,001
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
20. Tampa, Florida
> Avg. summer temperature: 83.6°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 74.5°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 55.2 in.
> Total population: 395,912
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19. El Paso, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 83.7°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 66.2°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 10.1 in.
> Total population: 679,879
Source: Art Wager / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
18. Arlington, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 83.8°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 66.0°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 38.1 in.
> Total population: 397,269
Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
17. Austin, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 83.8°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 68.2°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 37.5 in.
> Total population: 965,872
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Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
16. Pembroke Pines, Florida
> Avg. summer temperature: 84.0°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 77.3°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 62.0 in.
> Total population: 171,979
Source: Barbara Smyers / iStock via Getty Images
15. Fort Worth, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 84.2°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 66.4°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 37.1 in.
> Total population: 892,221
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Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
14. Dallas, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 84.4°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 66.8°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 40.0 in.
> Total population: 1,338,846
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
13. Houston, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 84.4°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 70.7°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 55.1 in.
> Total population: 2,313,238
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
12. Irving, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 84.5°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 66.6°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 37.0 in.
> Total population: 240,475
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Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
11. Corpus Christi, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 84.5°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 72.9°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 32.5 in.
> Total population: 326,332
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
10. San Antonio, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 84.6°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 70.2°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 34.2 in.
> Total population: 1,529,133
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
9. Brownsville, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 85.5°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 75.3°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 27.8 in.
> Total population: 182,230
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
8. Tucson, Arizona
> Avg. summer temperature: 86.9°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 70.5°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 11.9 in.
> Total population: 545,340
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
7. Laredo, Texas
> Avg. summer temperature: 88.3°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 74.8°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 20.5 in.
> Total population: 260,571
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Source: JeffreyRasmussen / iStock via Getty Images
6. Tempe, Arizona
> Avg. summer temperature: 88.7°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 71.8°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 8.4 in.
> Total population: 191,607
Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images
5. Scottsdale, Arizona
> Avg. summer temperature: 88.8°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 71.3°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 10.1 in.
> Total population: 254,995
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Source: Pavliha / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
4. North Las Vegas, Nevada
> Avg. summer temperature: 89.6°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 69.3°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 4.8 in.
> Total population: 247,248
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3. Enterprise, Nevada
> Avg. summer temperature: 90.3°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 69.1°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 5.2 in.
> Total population: 214,591
Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
2. Phoenix, Arizona
> Avg. summer temperature: 90.7°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 73.2°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 8.8 in.
> Total population: 1,658,422
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Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
1. Paradise, Nevada
> Avg. summer temperature: 90.8°F
> Avg. annual temperature: 70.1°F
> Avg. annual precipitation: 4.2 in.
> Total population: 193,150
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