Concrete Jungles on Fire: America’s Hottest Cities in the Summer

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s getting hot out there. And not just because summer is finally in full swing; temperatures across the globe are rising due to man made climate change. If you love a sweltering summer (and are perhaps secretly a lizard), then you might want to move to these places. But if you don’t, then you should probably stay away during the summer months, because they’re the cities with the hottest summers in America.

According to climate.gov, the global average surface temperature has increased by roughly two degrees fahrenheit since the 1850s. That may not sound like much, but “that extra heat is driving regional and seasonal temperature extremes, reducing snow cover and sea ice, intensifying heavy rainfall, and changing habitat ranges for plants and animals—expanding some and shrinking others,” according to the NOAA. This means that if a city is already experiencing hot summers, it’s not going to get much cooler – in fact, it’s only going to get warmer.

To determine the cities with the hottest summers, 24/7 Tempo reviewed historical temperature data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Metropolitan statistical areas were ranked based on average daily temperature during June, July, and August of 2019 through 2023. Data was aggregated from the county to metropolitan level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Data on population is from the Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.

So beware: If you’re planning on visiting (or living in) any of these cities during the summer months, it’s gonna be hot. And if you’re looking for more proof that things are warming up, these are the average summer temperatures every decade since 1895 .

To determine the cities with the hottest summers, 24/7 Tempo reviewed historical temperature data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Metropolitan statistical areas were ranked based on average daily temperature during June, July, and August of 2019 through 2023. Data was aggregated from the county to metropolitan level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau . Data on population is from the Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.

50. Longview, TX

Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.3°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 92.7°F
• Total population: 287,359

49. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL

Historic Downtown Melbourne ( CC BY 3.0 ) by MicheleHaro

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.4°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 89.8°F
• Total population: 610,723

48. Hammond, LA

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.4°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 92.3°F
• Total population: 133,953

47. Ocala, FL

Source: Michael Warren / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.5°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 91.7°F
• Total population: 378,225

46. Tyler, TX

Source: jodi4art / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.5°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 93.1°F
• Total population: 234,667

45. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.7°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 91.1°F
• Total population: 676,035

44. Sebring, FL

Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.7°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 92.3°F
• Total population: 102,339

43. Baton Rouge, LA

Source: BDphoto / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.7°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 92.0°F
• Total population: 869,755

42. Lawton, OK

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.7°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 95.0°F
• Total population: 127,314

41. Homosassa Springs, FL

Source: Xianghong Garrison / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.8°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 91.4°F
• Total population: 155,173

40. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.8°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 93.1°F
• Total population: 391,957

39. Lafayette, LA

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.8°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 91.4°F
• Total population: 479,865

38. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 82.8°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 91.8°F
• Total population: 844,461

37. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.0°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 96.6°F
• Total population: 214,229

36. Port St. Lucie, FL

Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.1°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 91.5°F
• Total population: 494,081

35. Lake Charles, LA

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.1°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 91.3°F
• Total population: 216,217

34. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.1°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 92.1°F
• Total population: 2,679,298

33. New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.2°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 90.9°F
• Total population: 1,264,357

32. Naples-Marco Island, FL

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.2°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 92.1°F
• Total population: 380,221

31. Abilene, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.3°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 95.7°F
• Total population: 176,656

30. Sherman-Denison, TX

Source: ManuelHurtado / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.3°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 93.2°F
• Total population: 137,008

29. Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.3°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 92.7°F
• Total population: 396,279

28. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

Source: TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.3°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 91.7°F
• Total population: 3,194,310

27. Punta Gorda, FL

Source: choicegraphx / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.3°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 92.4°F
• Total population: 189,900

26. Midland, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.3°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 96.1°F
• Total population: 174,621

25. Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

Source: Ultrahip / Wikimedia Commons

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.4°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 92.8°F
• Total population: 736,229

24. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

Source: LG Media Group / Shutterstock.com

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.4°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 91.8°F
• Total population: 6,123,949

23. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

Source: CampPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.5°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 91.9°F
• Total population: 772,902

22. Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA

Houma, Louisiana (3) ( CC BY-SA 2.0 ) by Ken Lund

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.5°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 90.8°F
• Total population: 206,082

21. Odessa, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.6°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 96.9°F
• Total population: 162,300

20. Wichita Falls, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 83.9°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 96.4°F
• Total population: 148,523

19. San Angelo, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 84.0°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 96.9°F
• Total population: 122,229

18. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

Source: TrongNguyen / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 84.2°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 94.8°F
• Total population: 7,673,379

17. Waco, TX

Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 84.5°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 95.5°F
• Total population: 278,103

16. Killeen-Temple, TX

Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 84.6°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 96.0°F
• Total population: 477,577

15. College Station-Bryan, TX

Source: TriciaDaniel / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 84.7°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 95.2°F
• Total population: 269,418

14. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 84.7°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 94.0°F
• Total population: 7,142,603

13. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 84.8°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 96.5°F
• Total population: 2,570,862

12. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX

Source: Jonathan Ross / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 85.1°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 96.6°F
• Total population: 2,296,377

11. Corpus Christi, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 85.4°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 93.9°F
• Total population: 422,187

10. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV

Source: chaddavisphotography / Flickr

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 85.4°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 98.2°F
• Total population: 2,265,926

9. Victoria, TX

Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 85.6°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 96.1°F
• Total population: 98,301

8. Tucson, AZ

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 85.7°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 100.7°F
• Total population: 1,042,393

7. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Source: DavieJones13 / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 86.2°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 95.0°F
• Total population: 421,854

6. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Downtown Riverside, California ( CC BY-SA 2.0 ) by Ken Lund

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 86.3°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 99.8°F
• Total population: 4,610,050

5. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 87.0°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 97.6°F
• Total population: 873,167

4. Laredo, TX

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 87.1°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 99.2°F
• Total population: 267,282

3. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

Source: 4kodiak / E+ via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 89.2°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 103.0°F
• Total population: 4,864,209

2. Yuma, AZ

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 91.7°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 106.6°F
• Total population: 204,374

1. El Centro, CA

Source: santalechuga / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily temperature, summer 2019-2023: 92.5°F
• Avg. daily maximum, summer 2019-2023: 106.6°F
• Total population: 179,578

The post Concrete Jungles on Fire: America’s Hottest Cities in the Summer appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .