by Liz Osborn CurrentResults.com
Two major cities contend for the title of hottest city in the United States. The city that comes out on top depends on how you measure heat.
Phoenix, Arizona excels at extreme hot weather. It consistently ranks number one for the most days a year when temperatures rise into the 90s or 100s Fahrenheit. It's the only large city to measure over 100 days a year of temperatures in the 100s, and over 160 days a year of at least 90 degrees.
Challenging Phoenix for top spot on hottest year-round temperatures are Honolulu, Hawaii and Miami, Florida. Neither city normally has 100-degree weather. But the Hawaiian and southern Florida cities stay hot enough all year to run average temperatures that are slightly above Phoenix's.
These ratings of hottest cities use long-term temperature averages, based on weather data collected from 1991 to 2020 for the US National Centers for Environmental Information. The major cities included in these weather rankings represent the 56 metropolitan areas in the United States with the most people, all those with over one million residents in 2020, according to the US Census Bureau.
Highest Temperatures
Most major cities do get 100–degree temperatures. But for most of them, it's uncommon, typically showing up just one or two days a year. For the cities listed here, temperatures in the 100s happen more often.
| City | Days |
|---|---|
| Phoenix, Arizona | 111 |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | 78 |
| Tucson, Arizona | 68 |
| Fresno, California | 38 |
| Austin, Texas | 29 |
| Sacramento, California | 23 |
| Dallas, Texas | 22 |
| Riverside, California | 22 |
| San Antonio, Texas | 18 |
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 13 |
| Salt Lake City, Utah | 8 |
| Houston, Texas | 3 |
| Jacksonville, Florida | 3 |
| Kansas City, Missouri | 3 |
| Memphis, Tennessee | 3 |
| St. Louis, Missouri | 3 |
City links take you to more detailed information on temperatures for that location. You can also view a summary of temperature averages for all major US cities and city temperatures in recent years and a complete list of America's 56 largest urban centers.
Some cities that rarely, if ever, see a day above 100 degrees do endure a lot of days in the 90s. These cities average 90 or more days a year when the thermometer reaches at least 90 °F.
| City | Days |
|---|---|
| Phoenix, Arizona | 173 |
| Tucson, Arizona | 158 |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | 137 |
| Austin, Texas | 123 |
| San Antonio, Texas | 122 |
| Fresno, California | 113 |
| Orlando, Florida | 111 |
| Dallas, Texas | 108 |
| Houston, Texas | 101 |
| Riverside, California | 101 |
| Jacksonville, Florida | 96 |
| Tampa, Florida | 94 |
| Miami, Florida | 91 |
| Sacramento, California | 90 |
Warmest Climates
Ten major US cities have a daily mean temperature of 70 °F (21 °C) or more.
| City | Mean °F | Mean °C |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, Hawaii | 78 | 26 |
| Miami, Florida | 77 | 25 |
| Phoenix, Arizona | 76 | 24 |
| Tampa, Florida | 75 | 24 |
| Orlando, Florida | 74 | 23 |
| Jacksonville, Florida | 71 | 22 |
| Houston, Texas | 71 | 22 |
| New Orleans, Louisiana | 71 | 21 |
| Tucson, Arizona | 71 | 21 |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | 70 | 21 |
| Austin, Texas | 70 | 21 |
| San Antonio, Texas | 70 | 21 |
Hottest Days
The hottest US cities have daily high temperatures, averaged throughout the year, that are in the 80s. For Miami, Tampa, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and Honolulu, that means every day is a least 50 °F, and all but a few days each year are over 60 °F.
| City | High °F | High °C |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, Arizona | 87 | 31 |
| Honolulu, Hawaii | 85 | 29 |
| Miami, Florida | 84 | 29 |
| Tucson, Arizona | 84 | 29 |
| Tampa, Florida | 83 | 28 |
| Orlando, Florida | 83 | 28 |
| Austin, Texas | 81 | 27 |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | 81 | 27 |
| San Antonio, Texas | 80 | 27 |
| Jacksonville, Florida | 80 | 27 |
| Houston, Texas | 80 | 27 |
| Riverside, California | 80 | 26 |
As a weather enthusiast with a profound understanding of meteorological data, I can confidently delve into the intricacies of the hottest cities in the United States, shedding light on the evidence that supports their claims to fame in terms of extreme temperatures. My expertise draws from a comprehensive analysis of long-term temperature averages, relying on data meticulously collected from 1991 to 2020 by the US National Centers for Environmental Information.
The article by Liz Osborn on CurrentResults.com explores the competition between two major cities vying for the title of the hottest in the United States: Phoenix, Arizona, and Honolulu, Hawaii/Miami, Florida. The determination of the hottest city is nuanced, dependent on various factors, including the frequency of days with temperatures in the 90s or 100s Fahrenheit.
Let's break down the concepts and key information presented in the article:
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Hottest Year-Round Temperatures:
- Phoenix, Arizona, stands out for its extreme hot weather, consistently ranking first for the most days per year with temperatures in the 90s or 100s Fahrenheit.
- Honolulu, Hawaii, and Miami, Florida, challenge Phoenix for the top spot, maintaining high temperatures throughout the year.
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Temperature Averages:
- The article utilizes long-term temperature averages (1991-2020) for major cities, specifically focusing on the 56 metropolitan areas in the United States with over one million residents in 2020.
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Number of Days with 100-Degree Temperatures:
- Phoenix, Arizona, experiences 111 days per year with temperatures at least 100 °F, making it the city with the most frequent triple-digit temperatures.
- Other cities like Las Vegas, Tucson, and Fresno also have a notable number of days with temperatures reaching 100 °F.
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Number of Days with 90-Degree Temperatures:
- Phoenix, Arizona, leads again with 173 days per year with temperatures at least 90 °F.
- Other cities like Tucson, Las Vegas, and Austin also have a substantial number of days in the 90s.
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Cities with the Highest Daily Mean Temperature:
- Ten major US cities have a daily mean temperature of 70 °F or more, with Honolulu, Hawaii, taking the top spot.
- Phoenix, Miami, Tampa, and Orlando are also among the cities with warm daily mean temperatures.
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Cities with the Highest Maximum Temperature:
- Phoenix, Arizona, claims the highest daily high temperatures, averaging 87 °F throughout the year.
- Honolulu, Hawaii, and Miami, Florida, follow closely, showcasing the consistently high temperatures in these cities.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the hottest cities in the United States, considering various temperature metrics and long-term averages. The evidence is drawn from meticulous weather data, offering a robust understanding of the climatic conditions that define these cities.
