Which U.S. Cities Saw Record-Breaking Temperatures in 2024?
Global temperatures are climbing—but how is this trend playing out across the United States, and which regions are being hit the hardest?
This visualization, developed in partnership with Inigo, highlights the U.S. cities that recorded record-breaking average temperatures in 2024. The data comes from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information and provides clear context on where the heat is intensifying the most.
Climbing Temperatures
According to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information’s annual report, 2024 was the warmest year on record since global measurements began in 1850. In the contiguous United States, it was also the hottest year in the 130-year record, with an average temperature of 55.5°F—3.5°F above the long-term norm.
Why are global temperatures climbing? The primary driver is human-induced climate change, fueled by the excessive burning of fossil fuels. This process releases heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, intensifying the planet’s warming.
As populations expand and industrialization advances, the upward trend in temperatures is likely to continue—unless significant, coordinated efforts are made to transition toward renewable energy and reduce overall consumption.
Cities with Hottest Temperatures Across the U.S.
The national average hit record highs in 2024, but the heat did not spread evenly across the country.
Eighty-two U.S. cities set new all-time temperature records, with most located in the North and Northeast—regions not usually known for extreme heat.
| City, State | Avg. Temp. 2024 | Avg. Temp. 1991-2020 | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Rio, TX | 76.4 | 71.3 | 5.1 |
| Fargo, ND | 47.7 | 42.6 | 5.1 |
| Sault Ste. Marie, MI | 47 | 42.1 | 4.9 |
| Grand Forks, ND | 45.4 | 40.5 | 4.9 |
| Green Bay, WI | 50.3 | 45.6 | 4.7 |
| Chicago, IL | 55.1 | 50.5 | 4.6 |
| Waterloo, IA | 52.5 | 47.9 | 4.6 |
| Muskegon, MI | 53.3 | 48.7 | 4.6 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 57.8 | 53.3 | 4.5 |
| Syracuse, NY | 53.4 | 48.9 | 4.5 |
| Duluth, MN | 44.7 | 40.3 | 4.4 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 56.5 | 52.1 | 4.4 |
| International Falls, MN | 42.3 | 37.9 | 4.4 |
| Caribou, ME | 44.8 | 40.5 | 4.3 |
| Burlington, VT | 51.1 | 46.9 | 4.2 |
| St Paul, MN | 51 | 46.8 | 4.2 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 52.9 | 48.7 | 4.2 |
| Buffalo, NY | 53.1 | 49 | 4.1 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 50.6 | 46.5 | 4.1 |
| Shreveport, LA | 70.6 | 66.6 | 4 |
| Huntington, WV | 60.3 | 56.3 | 4 |
| El Paso, TX | 69.9 | 66 | 3.9 |
| Peoria, IL | 56.3 | 52.4 | 3.9 |
| Hartford, CT | 55.1 | 51.2 | 3.9 |
| Erie, PA | 54.4 | 50.5 | 3.9 |
| Dubuque, IA | 51.4 | 47.5 | 3.9 |
| Roswell, NM | 65.9 | 62.1 | 3.8 |
| Amarillo, TX | 62 | 58.2 | 3.8 |
| Lexington, KY | 59.9 | 56.1 | 3.8 |
| Cleveland, OH | 55.3 | 51.5 | 3.8 |
| Albany, NY | 52.8 | 49.1 | 3.7 |
| Columbus, OH | 57.4 | 53.8 | 3.6 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 57.4 | 53.8 | 3.6 |
| Youngstown, OH | 53.5 | 49.9 | 3.6 |
| Abilene, TX | 68.8 | 65.2 | 3.6 |
| Raleigh, NC | 64.5 | 61 | 3.5 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 54.5 | 51 | 3.5 |
| Detroit, MI | 54.2 | 50.8 | 3.4 |
| Worcester, MA | 51.8 | 48.4 | 3.4 |
| Sheridan, WY | 49.1 | 45.7 | 3.4 |
| Brownsville, TX | 78.5 | 75.2 | 3.3 |
| Nashville, TN | 63.8 | 60.5 | 3.3 |
| Paducah, KY | 61.8 | 58.5 | 3.3 |
| Evansville, IN | 60.4 | 57.1 | 3.3 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 58 | 54.7 | 3.3 |
| Moline, IL | 54.4 | 51.1 | 3.3 |
| Elkins, WV | 54.3 | 51 | 3.3 |
| Rapid City, SD | 50.4 | 47.1 | 3.3 |
| Houston, TX | 74.3 | 71.1 | 3.2 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 57 | 53.8 | 3.2 |
| Washington (Dulles), DC | 58.9 | 55.7 | 3.2 |
| Wilkes-Barre, PA | 53.8 | 50.6 | 3.2 |
| Binghamton, NY | 50 | 46.9 | 3.1 |
| San Antonio, TX | 73.3 | 70.2 | 3.1 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 78.6 | 75.6 | 3 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 75.9 | 72.9 | 3 |
| Lubbock, TX | 64.3 | 61.3 | 3 |
| Austin, TX | 72.9 | 70 | 2.9 |
| Atlanta, GA | 66.3 | 63.4 | 2.9 |
| Washington (Reagan National), DC | 61.9 | 59 | 2.9 |
| Springfield, MO | 59.8 | 56.9 | 2.9 |
| Charleston, WV | 59 | 56.1 | 2.9 |
| Williamsport, PA | 54.4 | 51.5 | 2.9 |
| Dodge City, KS | 58.6 | 55.8 | 2.8 |
| Chattanooga, TN | 64.6 | 61.8 | 2.8 |
| Roanoke, VA | 60.5 | 57.7 | 2.8 |
| Beckley, WV | 55.3 | 52.5 | 2.8 |
| North Platte, NE | 52.3 | 49.5 | 2.8 |
| Concord, NH | 49.7 | 47 | 2.7 |
| Charlotte, NC | 64.1 | 61.4 | 2.7 |
| Asheville, NC | 59.3 | 56.6 | 2.7 |
| Birmingham, AL | 66.4 | 63.8 | 2.6 |
| Alamosa, CO | 44.8 | 42.3 | 2.5 |
| Richmond, VA | 61.8 | 59.4 | 2.4 |
| New York (JFK), NY | 57.3 | 54.9 | 2.4 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 49.3 | 46.9 | 2.4 |
| San Juan, PR | 83.3 | 80.9 | 2.4 |
| Dallas, TX | 70.2 | 67.9 | 2.3 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 59 | 56.7 | 2.3 |
| New York (Central Park), NY | 58 | 55.7 | 2.3 |
| Boise, ID | 55.4 | 53.1 | 2.3 |
| Johnson City, TN | 58.9 | 56.7 | 2.2 |
Several cities stood out with the largest jumps above their long-term averages:
- Del Rio, TX: 5.1°F above average
- Fargo, ND: 5.1°F above average
- Sault Ste. Marie, MI: 4.9°F above average
- Grand Forks, ND: 4.9°F above average
- Green Bay, WI: 4.7°F above average
The Future of Climate Change
As the globe continues to warm, record-breaking temperatures will likely rise in frequency. These shifts will drive serious consequences, including altered weather patterns and more severe natural disasters.
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