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This Place Just Recorded a 14ºF Spike Above Normal Temperatures

This Place Just Recorded a 14ºF Spike Above Normal Temperatures

Updated: by

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49. Jackson County, OR

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47. Douglas County, OR

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45. Tulare County, CA

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43. Fresno County, CA

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42. Siskiyou County, CA

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41. Tuolumne County, CA

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40. San Francisco County, CA

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39. El Dorado County, CA

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38. Madera County, CA

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37. Sierra County, CA

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36. Merced County, CA

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35. Placer County, CA

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34. Plumas County, CA

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33. Sutter County, CA

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32. Curry County, OR

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30. Shasta County, CA

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29. Trinity County, CA

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28. Santa Cruz County, CA

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26. Nevada County, CA

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25. Yuba County, CA

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24. Amador County, CA

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23. San Mateo County, CA

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22. Tehama County, CA

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21. Colusa County, CA

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20. Alameda County, CA

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19. Yolo County, CA

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18. Stanislaus County, CA

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17. Monterey County, CA

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16. Glenn County, CA

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15. Del Norte County, CA

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14. San Benito County, CA

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13. Humboldt County, CA

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12. San Joaquin County, CA

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11. Butte County, CA

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10. Solano County, CA

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9. Sacramento County, CA

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7. Santa Clara County, CA

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6. Contra Costa County, CA

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5. Mendocino County, CA

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4. Lake County, CA

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3. Marin County, CA

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2. Napa County, CA

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1. Sonoma County, CA

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50. Kings County, CA
49. Jackson County, OR
48. Ventura County, CA
47. Douglas County, OR
46. San Luis Obispo County, CA
45. Tulare County, CA
44. Coos County, OR
43. Fresno County, CA
42. Siskiyou County, CA
41. Tuolumne County, CA
40. San Francisco County, CA
39. El Dorado County, CA
38. Madera County, CA
37. Sierra County, CA
36. Merced County, CA
35. Placer County, CA
34. Plumas County, CA
33. Sutter County, CA
32. Curry County, OR
31. Mariposa County, CA
30. Shasta County, CA
29. Trinity County, CA
28. Santa Cruz County, CA
27. Josephine County, OR
26. Nevada County, CA
25. Yuba County, CA
24. Amador County, CA
23. San Mateo County, CA
22. Tehama County, CA
21. Colusa County, CA
20. Alameda County, CA
19. Yolo County, CA
18. Stanislaus County, CA
17. Monterey County, CA
16. Glenn County, CA
15. Del Norte County, CA
14. San Benito County, CA
13. Humboldt County, CA
12. San Joaquin County, CA
11. Butte County, CA
10. Solano County, CA
9. Sacramento County, CA
8. Calaveras County, CA
7. Santa Clara County, CA
6. Contra Costa County, CA
5. Mendocino County, CA
4. Lake County, CA
3. Marin County, CA
2. Napa County, CA
1. Sonoma County, CA

How much have temperatures changed across the U.S.? I live on the East Coast, where the hotter temperatures have been noticeable for the past few weeks. The East Coast isn’t alone when it comes to experiencing heat waves. If you look at graphics for the highest deviation from July norms, the U.S. is framed in red.

Check out NOAA’s global temperature history as the difference is alarming. The global temperature keeps increasing by about 0.11ºF per decade. That may not seem like a lot, but it’s speeding up. If you look at how fast the temperature has increased since the early 1980s, it’s going up at about 0.36ºF per decade. It’s becoming noticeable.

When I was younger and lived in California, I don’t remember experiencing extreme heat. Sure, it was sunny and warm with mild winters, but my parents never relied on AC to keep us cool. Now on the other side of the country, I cannot imagine not getting my window ACs set up in the bedrooms and living room. It’s getting earlier each year, too. I used to not need them until June, but this year, we needed them by early May. It gets earlier each year.

I’m not alone. Global air conditioner sales increased by 5% over 2022. The residential market grew by over 9%. It’s expected sales in 2024 will top $63.2 billion. The hotter it gets outside, the faster AC sales increase.

In the past few years, heat-related deaths have increased to as many as 2,302 in 2023. That was about 600 more deaths than in 2022. Heat waves are not to be taken lightly, no matter what county you're in. (Read “The Highest Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth” to see the record high.)

Methodology: 

To determine the counties experiencing the worst heat waves right now, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on daily average temperature from the NOAA’s nClimGrid-Daily program. Counties were ranked based on the raw differential in average daily temperature from the period July 1-6, 1981-2010 to July-16, 2024. Supplemental data on population is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey.

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