How much have temperatures changed across the U.S.? I live on the East Coast, where the hotter temperatures have been noticeable for the past few weeks. The East Coast isn’t alone when it comes to experiencing heat waves. If you look at graphics for the highest deviation from July norms, the U.S. is framed in red.
Check out NOAA’s global temperature history as the difference is alarming. The global temperature keeps increasing by about 0.11ºF per decade. That may not seem like a lot, but it’s speeding up. If you look at how fast the temperature has increased since the early 1980s, it’s going up at about 0.36ºF per decade. It’s becoming noticeable.
When I was younger and lived in California, I don’t remember experiencing extreme heat. Sure, it was sunny and warm with mild winters, but my parents never relied on AC to keep us cool. Now on the other side of the country, I cannot imagine not getting my window ACs set up in the bedrooms and living room. It’s getting earlier each year, too. I used to not need them until June, but this year, we needed them by early May. It gets earlier each year.
I’m not alone. Global air conditioner sales increased by 5% over 2022. The residential market grew by over 9%. It’s expected sales in 2024 will top $63.2 billion. The hotter it gets outside, the faster AC sales increase.
In the past few years, heat-related deaths have increased to as many as 2,302 in 2023. That was about 600 more deaths than in 2022. Heat waves are not to be taken lightly, no matter what county you’re in. ( Read “The Highest Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth” to see the record high .)
Methodology:
To determine the counties experiencing the worst heat waves right now, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on daily average temperature from the NOAA’s nClimGrid-Daily program. Counties were ranked based on the raw differential in average daily temperature from the period July 1-6, 1981-2010 to July-16, 2024. Supplemental data on population is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey .
Naval Air Station Lemoore, Kings County, California (
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Ken Lund - Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 88.0°F (+8.1°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 79.9°F
- Total population: 152,515
- County seat: Hanford
Source: Jesse Stephens / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 72.6°F (+8.1°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 64.4°F
- Total population: 222,604
- County seat: Medford
Ventura, California (5) (
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Ken Lund - Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 77.1°F (+8.2°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 68.9°F
- Total population: 842,009
- County seat: Ventura
Source: halbergman / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 70.9°F (+8.4°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 62.6°F
- Total population: 111,322
- County seat: Roseburg
Entering San Luis Obispo Count… (
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Ken Lund - Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 79.5°F (+8.6°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 71.0°F
- Total population: 281,712
- County seat: San Luis Obispo
Source: tupungato / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 79.9°F (+8.7°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 71.2°F
- Total population: 473,446
- County seat: Visalia
Coos Bay National Bank Bldg – Coos Bay Oregon (
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Ian Poellet - Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 70.0°F (+9.0°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 61.1°F
- Total population: 64,908
- County seat: Coquille
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 80.8°F (+9.0°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 71.7°F
- Total population: 1,008,280
- County seat: Fresno
Source: CampPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 73.1°F (+9.1°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 64.0°F
- Total population: 44,049
- County seat: Yreka
Source: CampPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 74.8°F (+9.2°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 65.6°F
- Total population: 54,993
- County seat: Sonora
Source: bluejayphoto / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 71.4°F (+9.4°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 62.0°F
- Total population: 851,036
- County seat: San Francisco
Source: alacatr / Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 78.7°F (+9.6°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 69.1°F
- Total population: 191,713
- County seat: Placerville
Source: garytog / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 81.9°F (+9.6°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 72.3°F
- Total population: 157,243
- County seat: Madera
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 72.5°F (+9.9°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 62.6°F
- Total population: 2,916
- County seat: Downieville
Source: Sundry Photography / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 87.1°F (+10.0°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 77.1°F
- Total population: 282,290
- County seat: Merced
Source: alacatr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 78.9°F (+10.0°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 68.8°F
- Total population: 406,608
- County seat: Auburn
Source: jmoor17 / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 74.0°F (+10.4°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 63.6°F
- Total population: 19,650
- County seat: Quincy
Source: martinalfaro / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 88.5°F (+10.4°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 78.1°F
- Total population: 99,101
- County seat: Yuba City
Source: Randy King / Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 72.9°F (+10.5°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 62.4°F
- Total population: 23,404
- County seat: Gold Beach
Mariposa, California (
CC BY-SA 2.0 ) by
Ken Luu043fd - Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 81.8°F (+10.6°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 71.3°F
- Total population: 17,130
- County seat: Mariposa
Source: jgreesonarts / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 81.9°F (+10.6°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 71.3°F
- Total population: 181,852
- County seat: Redding
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 77.7°F (+10.6°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 67.1°F
- Total population: 15,889
- County seat: Weaverville
Source: yhelfman / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 74.8°F (+10.6°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 64.2°F
- Total population: 268,571
- County seat: Santa Cruz
Source: kenlund / Flickr
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 74.3°F (+10.6°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 63.6°F
- Total population: 87,994
- County seat: Grants Pass
Source: PaintedWorks / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 78.2°F (+10.6°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 67.5°F
- Total population: 102,322
- County seat: Nevada City
Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 87.0°F (+10.8°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 76.1°F
- Total population: 81,705
- County seat: Marysville
Source: Michael Marfell / Moment via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 83.7°F (+10.8°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 72.8°F
- Total population: 40,577
- County seat: Jackson
Source: SpVVK / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 73.9°F (+10.9°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 63.0°F
- Total population: 754,250
- County seat: Redwood City
Source: J. Marquardt / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 85.7°F (+10.9°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 74.8°F
- Total population: 65,484
- County seat: Red Bluff
Source: CampPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 87.7°F (+10.9°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 76.8°F
- Total population: 21,811
- County seat: Colusa
Source: DianeBentleyRaymond / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 80.8°F (+11.0°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 69.8°F
- Total population: 1,663,823
- County seat: Oakland
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 87.5°F (+11.1°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 76.5°F
- Total population: 217,141
- County seat: Woodland
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 87.1°F (+11.1°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 76.0°F
- Total population: 552,063
- County seat: Modesto
Source: halbergman / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 80.0°F (+11.1°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 68.9°F
- Total population: 437,609
- County seat: Salinas
Source: JeffGoulden / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 87.1°F (+11.3°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 75.8°F
- Total population: 28,657
- County seat: Willows
Source: Jeffrey Schwartz / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 74.4°F (+11.4°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 63.0°F
- Total population: 27,462
- County seat: Crescent City
Source: yhelfman / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 83.7°F (+11.5°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 72.3°F
- Total population: 64,753
- County seat: Hollister
Source: sabinamoscovici0 / Shutterstock.com
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 75.8°F (+11.5°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 64.3°F
- Total population: 136,132
- County seat: Eureka
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 87.3°F (+11.6°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 75.7°F
- Total population: 779,445
- County seat: Stockton
Source: AlessandraRC / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 86.9°F (+11.7°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 75.3°F
- Total population: 213,605
- County seat: Oroville
Source: jmsilva / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 85.0°F (+11.7°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 73.2°F
- Total population: 450,995
- County seat: Fairfield
Source: JasonDoiy / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 87.7°F (+11.7°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 76.0°F
- Total population: 1,579,211
- County seat: Sacramento
Source: Saopaulo1 / Wikimedia Commons
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 85.3°F (+11.8°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 73.4°F
- Total population: 45,674
- County seat: San Andreas
Source: yhelfman / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 81.5°F (+11.9°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 69.5°F
- Total population: 1,916,831
- County seat: San Jose
Source: Sundry Photography / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 83.6°F (+12.3°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 71.4°F
- Total population: 1,162,648
- County seat: Martinez
Source: nathanphoto / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 78.9°F (+12.4°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 66.5°F
- Total population: 91,145
- County seat: Ukiah
Source: alacatr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 84.2°F (+12.5°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 71.8°F
- Total population: 68,024
- County seat: Lakeport
Source: yhelfman / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 74.6°F (+13.0°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 61.6°F
- Total population: 260,485
- County seat: San Rafael
Source: Spondylolithesis / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 85.4°F (+13.4°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 72.0°F
- Total population: 137,384
- County seat: Napa
Source: RyanCSlimakPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 2024: 80.0°F (+14.1°F hotter than normal)
- Avg. temperature, July 1-6, 1981-2010: 66.0°F
- Total population: 488,436
- County seat: Santa Rosa
The post This Place Just Recorded a 14ºF Spike Above Normal Temperatures appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .
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