Excessive Heat Is Threatening These Vacation Hotspots Right Now

It’s going to be a long, hot summer. From the Northeast to the Southwest, millions of Americans are sweating it out as a heatwave grips large swaths of the nation. Unfortunately for many people who are planning on traveling to take a vacation soon, lots of vacation hotspots are facing excessive heat right now.

Currently, dangerous levels of heat – the National Weather Service classifies a heat level as “dangerous” when the heat index is between 103 and 125 degrees – are forecast for large areas of the South, West, and Midwest. About 32.9 million people, or about 10 percent of the population of the contiguous United States, are currently facing down dangerous heat levels.

The heat index, which takes both humidity and temperature into account, is the measure of how hot it really feels outside. And that dangerous heat index only accounts for being in the shade – when you’re in the sun, it can feel up to 15 degrees warmer.

If you’re someplace where it’s very hot out (and the odds are high you are right now), the National Weather Service recommends that you make sure to drink plenty of water, avoid being in direct sunlight if you can, and try to spend as much time possible indoors, in a cool room if possible. It’s also recommended that you check in on relatives and neighbors, especially if they’re elderly or live alone.

To determine the vacation hotspots being threatened by excessive heat, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on current weather warnings and advisories from the NOAA’s National Weather Service. Cities whose land area fall at least 50% within the boundaries of an NWS excessive heat warning as of July 11, 2024 were ordered by maximum observed temperature during the period July 1-8, 2024. Temperature data is from the NOAA’s nClimGrid-Daily program and was aggregated from the census tract level to the place level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau’s TIGER/Line shapefiles program. Only cities where at least 15% of the housing stock is vacant for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use – a proxy for vacation activity – with at least 1,000 residents were considered. Population and vacancy status data is from the Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey.

If you’re planning on taking a vacation to any of the below places, we recommend you pack plenty of light clothes – and a good hat and sunblock. Or you might want to consider just taking a road trip in your state instead.

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 92.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 73.2°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 46.7%
• Total population: 3,038

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 96.3°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 74.4°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 21.8%
• Total population: 1,111

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 99.1°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 78.7°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 19.5%
• Total population: 5,003

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 102.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 76.4°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 24.8%
• Total population: 1,756

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 102.8°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 78.9°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 19.5%
• Total population: 1,377

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 103.3°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 78.7°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 20.4%
• Total population: 2,218

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 103.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 84.0°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 27.8%
• Total population: 2,013

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 104.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 85.9°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 19.0%
• Total population: 1,375

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 105.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 80.0°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 18.7%
• Total population: 1,103

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 105.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 85.4°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 30.6%
• Total population: 1,485

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 105.3°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 83.0°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 48.6%
• Total population: 2,195

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 105.3°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 83.3°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 18.8%
• Total population: 3,032

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 105.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 78.3°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 25.2%
• Total population: 1,371

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 106.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 85.2°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 18.7%
• Total population: 1,271

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 107.1°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 85.3°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 23.7%
• Total population: 1,006

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 107.4°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 88.5°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 17.1%
• Total population: 20,937

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 107.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 86.9°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 15.6%
• Total population: 1,215

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 75.6%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 107.8°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 85.8°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 16.2%
• Total population: 2,320

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 108.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 87.8°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 22.4%
• Total population: 2,022

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 79.1%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 109.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 87.0°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 24.4%
• Total population: 3,514

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 85.1%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 109.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 87.5°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 26.7%
• Total population: 2,267

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 109.8°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 88.2°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 39.9%
• Total population: 2,946

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 109.9°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 84.6°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 19.1%
• Total population: 2,666

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.1°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 89.3°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 26.4%
• Total population: 2,546

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 89.1°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 21.1%
• Total population: 6,751

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.3°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 83.3°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 21.7%
• Total population: 1,031

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.5°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 91.6°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 20.3%
• Total population: 11,565

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.5°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 86.3°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 25.6%
• Total population: 2,074

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.8°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 89.2°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 18.3%
• Total population: 3,819

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 111.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 92.6°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 21.1%
• Total population: 3,671

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 86.7%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 112.1°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 90.0°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 27.8%
• Total population: 44,935

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 112.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 88.7°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 17.1%
• Total population: 1,106

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 113.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 93.9°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 34.0%
• Total population: 1,629

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 114.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 92.5°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 35.8%
• Total population: 17,257

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 114.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 95.8°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 17.7%
• Total population: 25,783

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 114.5°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 93.2°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 47.7%
• Total population: 4,832

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 114.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 95.6°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 28.0%
• Total population: 2,422

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 114.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 92.8°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 40.6%
• Total population: 3,715

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 114.8°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 93.7°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 28.6%
• Total population: 51,290

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 115.4°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 94.6°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 30.2%
• Total population: 37,933

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 115.5°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 93.9°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 27.1%
• Total population: 2,307

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 115.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 94.5°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 16.6%
• Total population: 8,242

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 116.4°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 95.7°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 19.1%
• Total population: 6,414

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 117.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 95.2°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 18.2%
• Total population: 20,659

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 117.3°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 97.7°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 30.6%
• Total population: 27,552

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 117.3°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 97.0°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 21.6%
• Total population: 1,026

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 117.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 98.4°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 17.0%
• Total population: 4,895

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 117.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 98.2°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 31.3%
• Total population: 2,447

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 118.4°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 98.5°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 22.7%
• Total population: 2,651

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 118.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 99.3°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 15.1%
• Total population: 41,593

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 118.9°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 99.6°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 15.6%
• Total population: 8,184

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 119.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 98.9°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 30.4%
• Total population: 2,141

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 119.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 99.5°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 19.2%
• Total population: 57,294

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 120.1°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 99.5°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 15.9%
• Total population: 1,012

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 121.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 100.3°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 46.1%
• Total population: 1,441

• Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 121.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 100.8°F
• Housing units dedicated to seasonal use: 42.8%
• Total population: 1,028