Turn Up the AC: The Hottest Places in the US 

From sea to shining sea, the United States enjoys a variety of climates and very different weather patterns. During the summer months, some parts of the US heat up – a lot. Even if you love warm weather, these places take hot weather to the extreme.

Can you guess which city in the United States is the hottest?

Heating Things Up: America’s Most Sizzling Cities and Locations

There are several ways to award the title of “hottest.” From single-day high temperatures to the highest averages, all the cities and locations on this list are positively boiling!

What Is The Hottest Place in the United States? 

Death Valley, California, recorded a temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit on July 10, 1913. More than a century later, that temperature remains the highest ever recorded in the United States. Since 1913, Death Valley has come close to breaking its own record, hitting 130 degrees twice in the past century (in 2020 and 2021).

What Is the Hottest Place in the World? (Hint: It’s in the US!)

El Azizia, Libya, held the crown with a 136.4-degree temperature reading in 1923 until the World Meteorologist Organization decertified the record temp after an interesting investigation in 2012, giving Death Valley the title as the hottest place in the world.

Related Content: Stay Safe During Summer Heat Waves

What Is the Hottest City in the United States?

It’s interesting to note that some of America’s fastest-growing cities also happen to be some of the hottest.

The hottest city in the US with a population of over 250,000 people is Phoenix, Arizona. The daily high reaches 100 degrees on a nearly daily basis between May and September. Unlike many desert cities, Phoenix also experiences plenty of warm nights with temperatures over 90 degrees.

The next 9 hottest cities in America are:

  • Las Vegas, Nevada – Averages more than 70 degrees year-round and boasts an all-time high of 117 degrees.
  • Tucson, Arizona – This southern Arizona city once saw triple-digit temperatures for 39 straight days in 2013.
  • Riverside, California – This metropolitan city sits just east of Los Angeles and once hit 118 degrees.
  • San Antonio, Texas – This city experiences sweltering heat and has surpassed 100 degrees every year for the past decade.  
  • Fresno, California – In 2022, Fresno hit its all time high heat record of 114 degrees in September. 
  • Houston, Texas – Houston summers have a high average of around 94 degrees and an incredible average humidity of 75%.  
  • Austin, Texas – Austin has a climate that is similar to Houston (at 94 degrees in the summer) but with slightly less humidity 
  • Miami, Florida – Temperatures in Miami usually don't exceed 90 degrees, but many summer days can hit 90% humidity  
  • Dallas, Texas – Like its other Texas cousins, Dallas has high summer averages in the mid 90 degrees with plenty of humid days   

What Is the Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in Texas and Florida? 

Two notoriously hot states, Texas, and Florida, are conspicuously absent from the top of the US heat records. Still, both states have seen incredibly high temperatures over the years.

While temperatures consistently top 110 degrees, the hottest recorded temperature in Texas is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It was first set in Fort Worth and Seymour, Texas in 1936, and matched by the city of Monahans, Texas in 1994.

The hottest city in Florida is Key West, which averages a balmy 78.1 degrees Fahrenheit all year long. Surprisingly, no Florida city has topped 110 degrees. The closest the state has come was in 1931 when the small city of Monticello hit the state record of 109. These temperatures would be brutal without a well-maintained air conditioner!

Heat Where You May Not Expect It 

In a country with climate zones as diverse as the US, it can get hot even in places you wouldn’t guess. Temperatures in Alaska are more pleasant than you might assume. Away from the Alaska coasts, temperatures average as high as 70 degrees during the summer months and can hit 90 degrees on hot days. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Alaska was 100 degrees at Fort Yukon in 1915.

Don’t Get Hot Under The Collar When Temperatures Rise

Even if your city isn’t breaking heat records, it’s important to stay comfortable. Trust your local One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning for all your air conditioning installation and repair needs. Call (800) 893-3523 or request an appointment today!