Cities Where Summer Is Getting Hotter

Published: June 17, 2024 by Tracy Farnsworth

Where in the U.S. is summer getting hotter? The answer is pretty much everywhere, but some cities are experiencing more drastic increases than others. Are you convinced it’s hotter than any other time in your life? You could be right.

Already in 2024, The Copernicus Climate Change Service, a program established by the European Union, reports that May is the hottest month on record. It’s the 12th consecutive month where the world’s average temperature set a record. It’s hot and only getting hotter.

People turn down the temperature on their AC system’s thermostat as temperatures increase. You may head to a lake, river, ocean, or pool to cool off and try to beat the heat. Excessive heat is dangerous in more ways than you might imagine, and staying hydrated only does so much. Heat increases the risk of serious complications in people with chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

Deaths related to heat exposure reached the highest levels ever during the heatwaves in 2006 per the EPA. EPA statistics for 2018 to 2020 are not ready yet, but an analysis of CDC reports found that more than 3,000 people died from the impact of excessive heat. It’s important to know where it’s getting hotter and plan accordingly to keep yourself and your loved ones cool.

While global temperatures keep increasing, many cities in the U.S. are also experiencing hotter summers. Our list of cities where summer is getting hotter sheds light on where temperatures are soaring. (Also read The Average Summer Temperature Every Decade Since 1895.)

To determine the cities where summer is getting hotter, 24/7 Tempo reviewed historical temperature data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Metropolitan statistical areas were ranked based on the difference in average maximum temperature during June, July, and August of 2019 through 2023 from the average maximum temperature during June, July, and August of 1901 through 2000. Data was aggregated from the county to the metropolitan level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Data on population is from the Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.

Here is the list of the cities where summer is getting hotter:

50. St. George, UT

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 90.6°F (+2.7°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 87.9°F
Total population: 183,297

49. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

San Francisco CA people | Girl looking at beautiful summer coastal landscape, on hiking trip.

Source: MargaretW / iStock via Getty Images

Girl looking at beautiful summer coastal landscape, on hiking trip. Woman relaxing on mountain. Golden Gate Bridge, over Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, San Francisco, California, USA.

Source: MargaretW / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 77.8°F (+2.7°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 75.0°F
Total population: 4,692,242

48. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ

Source: Creative-Family / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 84.1°F (+2.8°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 81.3°F
Total population: 274,339

47. Fort Collins-Loveland, CO

Source: marekuliasz / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 77.0°F (+2.8°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 74.2°F
Total population: 359,363

46. Reno, NV

Source: Rex_Wholster / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 85.9°F (+2.8°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 83.1°F
Total population: 490,769

45. Carson City, NV

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 84.6°F (+2.8°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 81.8°F
Total population: 58,249

44. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 99.8°F (+2.8°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 97.0°F
Total population: 4,610,050

43. Coeur d’Alene, ID

Source: tristanbnz / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 78.9°F (+2.8°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 76.1°F
Total population: 173,396

42. Twin Falls, ID

Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 85.6°F (+2.9°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 82.7°F
Total population: 115,066

41. Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ

Source: Cheri Alguire / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 93.8°F (+2.9°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 90.9°F
Total population: 125,504

40. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California | San Diego, California Skyline

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

San Diego, California, USA downtown skyline.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 89.9°F (+2.9°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 87.0°F
Total population: 3,289,701

39. Odessa, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 96.9°F (+2.9°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 94.0°F
Total population: 162,300

38. Idaho Falls, ID

Source: Strekoza2 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 81.0°F (+2.9°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 78.1°F
Total population: 158,478

37. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Source: Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 81.7°F (+2.9°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 78.8°F
Total population: 445,213

36. Longview-Kelso, WA

Source: thyegn / Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 75.4°F (+2.9°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 72.5°F
Total population: 110,621

35. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

Source: Tinieder / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 80.7°F (+3.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 77.7°F
Total population: 1,670,949

34. Amarillo, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 93.0°F (+3.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 90.1°F
Total population: 269,278

33. Salisbury, MD

Source: Alexey_Fedoren / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 87.1°F (+3.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 84.2°F
Total population: 421,982

32. Logan, UT-ID

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 80.0°F (+3.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 77.1°F
Total population: 148,804

31. El Paso, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 96.0°F (+3.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 93.0°F
Total population: 867,161

30. Trenton-Princeton, NJ

Source: Ultima_Gaina / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 85.8°F (+3.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 82.8°F
Total population: 383,732

29. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Source: nata_rass / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 78.3°F (+3.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 75.3°F
Total population: 268,571

28. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 81.3°F (+3.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 78.3°F
Total population: 585,485

27. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Portland, OR | Portland Oregon skyline with Mt. Hood in Autumn

Source: BruceBlock / iStock via Getty Images

Aerial view of Portland, Oregon take in Autumn

Source: BruceBlock / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 76.7°F (+3.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 73.7°F
Total population: 2,505,312

26. Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 86.4°F (+3.1°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 83.4°F
Total population: 677,964

25. Santa Fe, NM

Source: MargaretW / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 85.0°F (+3.1°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 81.9°F
Total population: 154,481

24. Yuba City, CA

Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 94.6°F (+3.1°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 91.5°F
Total population: 180,806

23. Albuquerque, NM

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 88.6°F (+3.2°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 85.5°F
Total population: 915,968

22. Chico, CA

Source: jmoor17 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 92.5°F (+3.2°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 89.3°F
Total population: 213,605

21. Colorado Springs, CO

Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 79.3°F (+3.2°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 76.2°F
Total population: 755,081

20. Flagstaff, AZ

Source: Md Esharuzzaman Emu / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 89.3°F (+3.2°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 86.1°F
Total population: 144,705

19. Salt Lake City-Murray, UT

Salt Lake City, UT | Salt Lake City, Utah

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Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous municipality of the U.S. state of Utah

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 87.2°F (+3.2°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 84.0°F
Total population: 1,254,675

18. Lewiston, ID-WA

Source: bpperry / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 83.5°F (+3.2°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 80.3°F
Total population: 64,570

17. Tucson, AZ

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 100.7°F (+3.3°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 97.4°F
Total population: 1,042,393

16. Las Cruces, NM

Source: SWCargill / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 95.4°F (+3.3°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 92.1°F
Total population: 219,870

15. Albany, OR

Source: GarysFRP / Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 77.2°F (+3.4°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 73.8°F
Total population: 128,598

14. Farmington, NM

Source: KaraGrubis / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 90.0°F (+3.4°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 86.6°F
Total population: 121,798

13. Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ

Source: equigini / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 94.1°F (+3.5°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 90.6°F
Total population: 237,830

12. Ogden, UT

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 82.1°F (+3.6°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 78.6°F
Total population: 696,650

11. Cheyenne, WY

Source: jmoor17 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 83.3°F (+3.6°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 79.7°F
Total population: 100,316

10. Stockton-Lodi, CA

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 93.6°F (+3.6°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 90.0°F
Total population: 779,445

9. Medford, OR

Source: Grant Wylie / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 82.2°F (+3.6°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 78.6°F
Total population: 222,604

8. Eugene-Springfield, OR

Source: XXLPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 77.2°F (+3.7°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 73.5°F
Total population: 382,218

7. Yuma, AZ

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 106.6°F (+3.8°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 102.8°F
Total population: 204,374

6. Salem, OR

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 78.8°F (+4.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 74.8°F
Total population: 433,415

5. Bend, OR

Source: LParkerPhotography / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 80.7°F (+4.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 76.6°F
Total population: 199,352

4. Grand Junction, CO

Source: Jeremy Janus / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 84.2°F (+4.0°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 80.2°F
Total population: 156,131

3. Redding, CA

Source: Sundry Photography / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 89.9°F (+4.1°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 85.8°F
Total population: 181,852

2. Corvallis, OR

Source: JPStrickler / iStock via Getty Images

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 81.2°F (+4.5°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 76.7°F
Total population: 95,615

1. Grants Pass, OR

Aerial view of downtown Grants Pass with the Caveman concrete arch bridge and the 7th street bridge crossing the Rogue River by Bob Pool

Source: Bob Pool / Shutterstock.com

Aerial view of downtown Grants Pass with the Caveman concrete arch bridge and the 7th street bridge crossing the Rogue River (Shutterstock.com) by Bob Pool

Avg. max temp., summer 2019-2023: 81.5°F (+4.7°F warmer than normal)
Avg. max temp., summer 1901-2000: 76.8°F
Total population: 87,994