By Peter Simek 6.8.22
Texas is hot. You don’t need a reminder of that in June. This time of year, temperatures begin to soar throughout the state. It is not uncommon for some towns and cities to endure multiple days of 100-plus degrees each summer. But some places in Texas are hotter than others. Where is the hottest place in Texas? We searched far and wide to find the most scorching spots in the Lone Star State. The answer, it turns out, depends on how you measure heat.
The 10 Hottest Cities in Texas
Back in 2019, 24/7 Wall St. compiled what it argued was the definitive list of hot American cities. And while the top three spots were dominated by cities in Arizona and Nevada, the Texas border town of Del Rio came in at No. 4. How hot is Del Rio? Between 1951 and 2018, the hottest temperature on record in Del Rio was 112 degrees. The normal mid-summer high is 97.1. And in 2018, Del Rio was hotter than 90 degrees for a whopping 134 days.
That wasn’t much hotter than Brownsville and San Antonio, which came in fifth and sixth on the list, respectively. In fact, Texas cities round out the top 10 of the Top 50 hottest cities. Here are the 10 hottest Texas cities, according to that study:
1. Del Rio
2. Brownsville
3. San Antonio
4. Austin
5. San Angelo
6. Corpus Christi
7. Waco
8. Victoria
9. Wichita Falls
10. El Paso
The Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in Texas
Just because a city endures dozens of days over 90 degrees a year doesn’t mean that it is the hottest place in Texas. In fact, there are several spots around the state that have recorded hotter temperatures than these 10 Texas cities. Both Seymour and the Monahans Sandhills State Park have hit 120 degrees. That’s still the hottest temperature on record in Texas.
Where Texas Feels the Hottest
Does a single day of 120 degrees really earn Seymour and Monahans the title of “Hottest Place in Texas”? Perhaps on paper. But there are parts of Texas that may feel hotter. During a 2019 heatwave in South Texas, the combination of soaring temperatures and Gulf Coast humidity drove heat indexes in some places above 120 degrees. Brownsville recorded its highest-ever July temperature at 106 degrees, but heat indexes rose to 128 degrees.
If that’s enough to make you want to jump in the car to escape the heat, then you may want to check out Curious Texas’ breakdown of Texas’ coolest summer destinations (think Panhandle). But before you pack your bags, keep in mind that in July 2020, the mercury hit 116 degrees in Borger, which is about 40 miles north of Amarillo.
In other words, it’s tough to escape the Texas heat. Hit the road with these safety tips in mind for driving on hot roads.
© 2022 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance
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As an expert in climate and geography, particularly focused on Texas, I can provide a comprehensive analysis of the article "Texas Travel" by Peter Simek. The information in the article revolves around the extreme heat experienced in various cities in Texas, with a focus on temperature records, rankings, and safety tips for dealing with high temperatures.
Firstly, the author discusses the intensity of the Texas heat, especially during June, where temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The piece emphasizes that while Texas is universally hot in the summer, there are variations in temperature among different cities. The evidence for this claim comes from the compilation by 24/7 Wall St. in 2019, which ranked Del Rio as the fourth hottest city in the U.S., with a record temperature of 112 degrees and a normal mid-summer high of 97.1 degrees.
The article then provides a list of the top 10 hottest cities in Texas according to the 2019 study:
- Del Rio
- Brownsville
- San Antonio
- Austin
- San Angelo
- Corpus Christi
- Waco
- Victoria
- Wichita Falls
- El Paso
This ranking is based on the frequency of days with temperatures over 90 degrees, and Del Rio takes the lead with 134 such days in 2018.
The discussion shifts to the hottest temperature ever recorded in Texas, which is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme temperature has been recorded in both Seymour and the Monahans Sandhills State Park. Despite this record, the article notes that enduring multiple days over 90 degrees doesn't necessarily make a city the hottest place in Texas.
The author argues that the combination of high temperatures and Gulf Coast humidity can make some areas feel hotter than others. During a 2019 heatwave in South Texas, heat indexes surpassed 120 degrees in some places, with Brownsville reaching a heat index of 128 degrees. This suggests that the "feels-like" temperature, which considers factors like humidity, plays a crucial role in how hot a place seems to residents.
The article concludes with a mention of Texas' diverse climate and safety tips for driving on hot roads. It suggests that escaping the Texas heat is challenging, even in traditionally cooler regions like the Panhandle.
In summary, the article provides a detailed exploration of the hottest places in Texas, considering both recorded temperatures and subjective experiences influenced by factors like humidity. It also touches on the challenges of dealing with extreme heat and offers safety tips for those traveling in hot conditions.
