How much hotter was this summer where you live?
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As climate change warms the world, summers are lengthening, temperatures are climbing and the season’s markers — blooming wildflowers, migrating butterflies and songbirds — are undergoing a visible shift.
Whether they’re aware of it or not, most people in the United States just experienced a summer with all the fingerprints of global warming. Above-average heat withered crops, put millions of people under advisories to stay indoors and led state authorities to ask residents to conserve power. A series of extraordinary floods damaged cities and towns, exposing the fragility of aging sewer and drinking water systems.
This summer was the second-warmest in the past 50 years, trailing only 2021, a Washington Post analysis of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found. On average, Americans experienced a summer 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the average over the past 50 years.
Riley Ringgold Carbon Bear Lake Buffalo York Eagle Westmoreland Le Flore Burnet Chenango Logan Gibson Itasca Middlesex Westchester Meade Wood Buena Vista Cheatham Clark Lee Blue Earth Sheridan St. Bernard Boone Cuyahoga Clarendon Klamath Berkeley Bristol Hampshire Kane Nash Providence Somerset Laurens Calhoun Garfield Moore Wilkin Grimes Lafayette Uintah Lincoln Suffolk Delaware Orange Washington Clay Ventura Union Bibb Multnomah Bosque Cass Charlton Carroll Scotts Bluff Montmorency New London Treutlen Mecklenburg Lincoln Dorchester Warren Orange Anderson Clay Worcester Stearns Walker Anne Arundel Meagher Jefferson Davis Lafayette Erie Colbert Williams Beauregard San Jacinto Wheeler Toombs Prince George’s New Madrid Northumberland Menard Union Leake Hooker Linn Coweta Holt Sussex Plumas Lake Wyoming Rockbridge Vermilion Accomack King George Grant Wells Washoe Grand Forks Clinton Webster Hardin Red River Tensas Union Tazewell McClain McDonough Lyon Jackson Houston Fayette Gilliam Elmore 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Yoakum Fremont Harford Humboldt Gray Berrien Currituck Wilkinson Hamilton Blaine Lauderdale Mariposa St. Martin Greenup Floyd Juab Ouray McKenzie Cecil Talbot Hopkins Hamilton Reeves Wilcox Pierce Fentress Hamilton Lewis Adams Taliaferro White Presque Isle Bryan Mississippi Williamson Howard Pickens Blount Clackamas Plaquemines Kimble Jones Nez Perce Boone Austin West Carroll Harnett Schley Roosevelt Cook Orange Warren Bath Haskell Reagan Maury San Juan Loving Sanders Mineral Moore Tipton York Henderson Fairfield Midland Cumberland Henry Meigs Rutherford Okeechobee Marshall Sullivan Coffee Montgomery Brewster Brazoria Plymouth Aiken Greeley Val Verde Oswego Towner Cook Los Angeles Lucas Mingo Perry Dewey Coconino Dickens Arkansas Van Buren Chippewa Macon Jefferson Miller Riverside Sutter Yolo Lake Armstrong Greene Leon Rooks Benton Bamberg Clark King and Queen Cass Bowie Cumberland Madison Worcester Oconee Baylor Charlotte Benson Phillips Marshall Washington Hudspeth Union Canyon Lee Jefferson Tattnall Grand Otsego Franklin Onondaga Tunica Caribou Ellis Twin Falls Hardy Alachua Somerset Benton Washington Northumberland Fremont Northampton Bee Stoddard Neosho Kiowa Caroline Lake Madera Stanislaus Richland Cherokee Liberty Strafford Caswell Nicholas Garfield Garrett St. Mary Osceola Hamilton Harrison Emmet Harrison Wayne Richland Trego Powhatan Campbell Jefferson Windsor Mitchell Clarion Cross Allendale San Juan Warren Craven Dare Livingston Clay St. Louis Saline Cumberland Hunterdon Sublette Lancaster Clinton Crane Juneau Richmond Columbus McDowell Niobrara Cattaraugus Cape Girardeau Yellow Medicine Natrona Essex Arapahoe Lamar Calhoun Baker Owyhee Cocke Pike Perry Leflore Juniata San Mateo Summit Josephine Robertson Starke Ford Fairfax Carroll Lac qui Parle Clay Iberia Norman Henry Franklin Kittson Washington Lancaster Albemarle Horry Bienville Carter Victoria Marinette Hardin Marin Randolph Jackson Frederick Essex Hardin Nemaha Gila Prairie Sutton Jackson Taylor San Luis Obispo Sullivan Grant King Bulloch Chicot McMullen Dolores Clearfield Valley Emery Pierce Tyler Nassau Bell Kent Hyde Jasper Washington Gibson Cleveland Mecklenburg Union Warren Churchill Chautauqua Sevier Cheyenne Caroline Nolan Edgecombe Dyer Etowah Wilcox Conecuh Dimmit Menifee St. Clair Kit Carson DuPage Alger Baker Daviess San Miguel Warren Prince William Laurel Phillips Crosby Livingston Martin Collingsworth Carroll Lonoke Comal Knox Aroostook Franklin Kingman Butte Barnstable Allen Lenoir Clarke Surry Lee Thurston Pike Washington Polk Madison Morrison Erie Monroe Grant Randolph Glenn Hampton Macomb Louisa Huron Talbot Renville Florence Fleming Tangipahoa Anderson Pike Traill Bon Homme Archer Cherokee Dallas Putnam Calhoun Greenbrier Yavapai Brantley Charlevoix Wagoner Erie Larue Russell Pender Fergus Missoula Dinwiddie Boone Little River Ripley Cameron Montgomery Gloucester Washington Columbia Powell Swisher Taylor Calhoun Adams Murray Bullitt Culberson Wicomico Greene Wayne El Paso Jackson McLean Charles City Newton New York Sevier Edmonson Solano Marion Hawkins Ellsworth Caddo Scott Smith Broadwater Hansford Alameda Terrebonne Concordia York Yuma Franklin Dixie Placer Washington Giles Rains Wakulla Telfair Tipton Washington Napa Pleasants Jackson Burleson Effingham Sterling Camp Denver Madison Roane Hampshire Walton Wetzel Randolph Scott Polk Gunnison Nevada Falls Church San Benito Goochland Knox Grant Harding Davie Grand Dunklin St. Charles Putnam Ouachita Guadalupe Williamson Ottawa Wrangell City and Borough Liberty San Joaquin Lemhi Hancock Catahoula Frederick Glacier Rowan Snohomish Howard Fayette Mobile Washington Alleghany Contra Costa Greeley Cherokee Niagara Queens Russell Lander Stevens Malheur Kenai Peninsula Borough Winkler Martin Muscogee Yakima Chouteau King East Baton Rouge Cavalier Madison Macon Cherokee Pulaski Rutherford Morton Coke Emanuel Madison Bexar Nelson Claiborne Lake Hickman Screven Mason Yancey Copper River Census Area Lancaster St. Louis Lake Childress Hinds Essex Indiana Eureka Loudon Halifax Camden Freestone Spotsylvania Delta Wise Mercer Osage Winnebago Kenedy Big Stone Pulaski York Iron Dorchester Woodruff Keweenaw Wolfe Clear Creek Calhoun Muhlenberg North Slope Borough Colorado Iron Big Horn Juneau City and Borough Johnson Sierra Breckinridge Marshall Livingston Piscataquis Beaverhead Jefferson Calvert St. Helena Crockett Pointe Coupee Houston Greene Douglas Henry Caldwell Bradford Kings Flathead Silver Bow Barbour Tehama Bethel Census Area Franklin Haines Borough Shasta Appling Chelan Allegany Marengo Moore Stanley Oneida Roanoke Calhoun Chaffee Lake and Peninsula Borough Huntingdon Hartley Lowndes Nevada Lawrence Tulare San Bernardino Elmore Grant Newberry Foard Greene Lexington Sherman Suffolk Roberts Lake Shelby Newport Sabine Humboldt Coos Whitman Baraga Queen Anne’s Hampden Norfolk Lincoln Lee Galveston Salt Lake Amelia Burke Sonoma Robertson Essex Page Onslow Hall Bertie Otsego Duval Burlington Jefferson Lake of the Woods Prince Edward Imperial Delta Kent Escambia Tyler Lee Hidalgo Schleicher Pershing Union Wilkes Wayne Autauga Kershaw Prince George Palo Alto Anchorage Municipality Vernon Cowlitz Saguache Valley Taylor Nassau Huntington Polk Shoshone Southampton Shelby Van Buren White DeKalb Morgan Rowan Garrard Orleans Winchester Nicholas Wright Herkimer Summit Marion Monroe Hockley Bradley Ouachita Middlesex Lamar Anderson Clinton LaSalle Pamlico Copiah Charleston Brevard Jackson Union Fayette Union Conway Montgomery Miami-Dade Westmoreland Inyo Monterey Rio Arriba Shenandoah Allegheny Cerro Gordo Jefferson New Haven Gillespie Pinal Siskiyou Montgomery Shelby Wasco Logan Rusk Alexander Northwest Arctic Borough Waldo Wilkes Donley Nelson Grant Madison Chatham Richland Avoyelles Petersburg Borough Navarro Seminole Grays Harbor Charles Chambers Hernando Douglas Chickasaw Harrison Bedford Rapides Monmouth Colfax Tate Lake Refugio DeSoto El Dorado Judith Basin Muskogee Daviess Pearl River Alpine Yazoo Carroll Johnson Huerfano San Juan Jackson Jefferson Owsley Putnam Crawford Comanche Columbia Knox Chesterfield Ashe Essex Southeast Fairbanks Census Area Ashland Brunswick Turner White Pine Anderson Cache Wyoming Faulkner Kanawha Gwinnett Cimarron Adams St. Landry Montgomery Madison Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area Carter Ascension Florence Clallam Estill Travis Schuyler Bossier Bryan Washington Surry Claiborne Mellette Mitchell Granite East Carroll Larimer Ottawa Greenville East Feliciana Barton Lewis Dillingham Census Area Davis Taos Titus Garfield Upshur Merced Orange Spencer Fall River Franklin Halifax James City Franklin Spartanburg Washington Delaware Park Cumberland Gallatin Evangeline Ida Blount Acadia Washington Buncombe Oxford Grafton Custer Pasquotank Pembina Goliad Plymouth Raleigh Jefferson Roscommon Lowndes Edwards Lowndes Montgomery Forest Cascade Bucks San Augustine Deschutes Walsh Las Animas Jackson Lubbock Twiggs Hardee San Patricio 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Mills Bergen Morgan New Hanover Maricopa DeKalb Kodiak Island Borough Wake Mono Hutchinson Beaufort Campbell Teton St. Mary’s Deer Lodge Brazos Levy Cameron Lewis Hillsborough Pacific Clark Stanly Jackson Winston Washington Pinellas San Saba Pennington Rosebud Henrico Washington Oldham Mackinac Union Starr Mitchell Crockett Van Zandt Dukes Nicollet Isle of Wight Leelanau Sedgwick Carbon Whatcom Liberty Newton Apache Chesterfield Choctaw Madison McCreary Buchanan Grayson Davidson Chippewa San Diego Perry Bailey Issaquena Trinity King William Cape May Whitley Cass Sioux Harlan Bladen Hart Garza Borden Matanuska-Susitna Borough Perry Clark Lebanon Ward Jefferson Marion Rich Morgan Haywood Washington Trempealeau Fort Bend Perry Matagorda Hancock Taylor Pawnee McDuffie St. Tammany Hempstead Charles Mix Magoffin Bayfield Atascosa Johnston Wayne Benton Wood Coleman Lewis Dickenson Middlesex Marshall Blanco Highlands Henderson Montgomery Redwood Morris Curry Baldwin Cochran Mineral Boise Fallon Somerset Door Marion Dallas McIntosh Hamblen Davison Idaho Independence DeSoto Owen Wayne Lane Pittsylvania Jefferson Braxton Trinity Sumter Shelby La Paz McPherson Fresno Finney Humphreys Richmond Nome Census Area Greene Callaway Bennett Morehouse Scotland Phillips Tillman Santa Rosa Luna Madison Gilchrist Ramsey Kalkaska Sebastian Augusta Pottawatomie Menominee Lincoln San Juan Aransas Montezuma Saratoga Rockingham White Talladega Lincoln Maverick Stafford Kemper Roane Nueces New Kent Atlantic Camden Warren Fayette Lyman Colleton Leslie Cleveland Martinsville Baldwin Scott Lincoln Attala Salem Crawford Lucas Orange Franklin Greene Isabella Union Monroe Boone Branch Bedford Venango Polk Powell Lincoln Mahoning Hidalgo Barbour Humphreys Jackson Wabash Beaver Waller Cullman Kusilvak Census Area McCormick Colusa Mendocino McCook Tyrrell Franklin Osage Shawano Kern Vernon Polk New Castle Monroe Marlboro Hale Kitsap Ness Adams Orange Fulton Letcher Delta Glasscock Boulder Cass Chariton Peoria Green Claiborne Tuscola Carlisle Minnehaha Hanson Luzerne Crawford Le Sueur Martin Barron Bottineau Jackson Pettis Logan Beadle Monroe Delaware Floyd Madison Deuel Weber Schoolcraft Windham Cass Laramie Isanti Kent Wirt Harrison Hardin Antelope Guilford Moody Cass Nye Cayuga Kennebec Livingston Castro Converse Harney Wheeler Wayne Oneida LaPorte Wilson Hettinger Kent Morrill Montgomery Daggett Cabarrus Audrain Hancock Osage Adams Lyon Wheatland Fulton Wood Franklin Franklin Coles Langlade Pike Lafayette Bartow Barton Lawrence Macon Haralson Ford Lackawanna Medina Lanier Clay Bay Holmes Quitman Steuben Jackson Mountrail Winnebago Dakota Kearny Christian Jefferson Brown Goodhue Chatham Los Alamos Baxter Quitman Cleburne Deaf Smith Aitkin Columbia Pipestone Runnels Paulding Blaine Shackelford Richmond Houston Wayne Aleutians East Borough Lampasas Gasconade Washington Worth Kendall Suffolk Gladwin Radford Grundy Blackford Hamilton Nantucket Gaines Emmons Lake Montgomery Doña Ana Craig Lincoln Tulsa Lee Overton Texas Throckmorton Iowa Jackson Knox Butler Hill Grundy St. Lucie Harlan Knox Carson City Whitley Ochiltree Calhoun Hardeman Crisp Portsmouth Coal Archuleta Howell Brown Seneca Johnson Harmon Greene Jones Pierce Scott Stephens Warren Clay Graves Dawson Gates Oakland Manitowoc Monroe Covington Woods Dale Montgomery Shelby Crawford Mayes Iowa Calhoun Washington Roanoke Meriwether Bonner Merrimack Moultrie Adair Geneva Wayne Yuma Norton Tarrant Hays Laurens Fulton St. Clair Casey Livingston Christian Pawnee Lincoln Crawford Pulaski Webster Smith Black Hawk Montgomery Logan Clayton Bastrop Kossuth Olmsted Dearborn Coshocton Perkins Callahan Bennington Clay Russell Franklin Ector Macon Bates Limestone Mason Stewart Lincoln Wright Boone Effingham Brooks Wahkiakum Obion Saline Russell Monroe Washtenaw Columbia Brown St. Johns Jackson Baker Lincoln Dougherty Flagler Sequatchie Cambria Grant Douglas Wyoming Lawrence Carter Assumption Hancock Spokane Terry Wallowa Utah Benzie Vermilion Chautauqua Dodge Madison Jewell Appomattox Wayne Nance Johnson Keith Hill Knox Person Hutchinson Monongalia Major Perkins Hendry LaSalle Jessamine Valencia Columbia Beckham Jack Rice Lawrence Brule Clarke Hemphill Billings Tuscarawas Howard Nowata Lincoln Franklin Roger Mills Barnes Sullivan Logan LaGrange Tallahatchie Montgomery Smyth Millard Wheeler Alcorn Coffee Franklin Cumberland Adams Jennings Kandiyohi Bureau Maries Lafayette Delaware Stone Erath Grand Isle Washburn Portage Buchanan Price Gallatin Trigg Sherman Bradley Pope Jefferson Marion Stark Crawford Pontotoc Ketchikan Gateway Borough Paulding Jay Eddy Grant Gratiot Lancaster Cuming Madison Stanton Staunton Logan Faulk Ozark Labette Webster Kiowa Merrick Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area Dickinson Comanche Nelson Ste. Genevieve Fayette Charlottesville Prowers Jefferson Pawnee Custer Palo Pinto Calhoun Taylor Pondera Monroe Cheshire Lyon Texas Stewart Upshur La Crosse Orange Monroe Wayne Cherokee Stephenson Freeborn Cooper Ada Cumberland Barren Rush Oscoda Martin Newport News Muskegon Delaware Henry Searcy Warren Daviess Cibola Hall Van Wert Pulaski Hood River Benton Lane Kootenai Poquoson Saline Johnson Macon Campbell Okaloosa Douglas Itawamba Garden Tama Mercer Fairfax Yamhill Pope Haskell Carroll Wilson Bernalillo Elko Dewey Dunn McLeod Montgomery Wells Ripley Pike Rock Wayne Hot Springs Lee Douglas Cleburne Codington Franklin Hughes Ashland Swift Clay Conejos Galax Bleckley Navajo Clay Putnam Oglala Lakota Bond Falls St. Francis Livingston Knox Coahoma Newton Woodward Prairie Kiowa Randolph Cleveland Dodge Adams Clark Guthrie Montgomery Watauga Harrison Lawrence Orleans Hardin Hillsdale Lawrence Phelps Durham Crawford Greene Baca Perry Stark Jones Hamilton Genesee Mercer Abbeville Bland Union Rice Kimball Newton Gregg Todd Tooele Marshall Lewis Trimble Lawrence Bent Adair Fayette Grundy Hickory Goshen Boone Hancock Rio Blanco Bay McLennan Valley Linn Modoc Red Willow Trumbull Taylor Slope Marshall St. Francois Palm Beach Murray Kingfisher Reno Dawson Payette Andrews Dutchess Ralls Kinney Arlington Tippah Ottawa West Baton Rouge Seneca Harrisonburg Franklin Grant Shelby Delaware Adams Marion Ontario Summers McLean Clinton Red Lake Pulaski Yell Wheeler Lamoille Cumberland Worth Waupaca Clearwater Clearwater Garvin Aurora Mineral Darke Linn Jefferson Champaign Manassas Bledsoe Douglas Edgar Anoka Howard Greenwood Upson Marion Sussex Elk Morton Montgomery Hickman Seward De Witt Lyon Marion Dawson Mineral Cumberland Andrew Loup Quay Edwards Clark Danville Richmond Milam Broward Bacon Benton Schuyler Concho Vermillion Coosa Union Rusk Henry Wise Pickens Cedar Piatt Putnam Henderson Forest Dickey Butte Nuckolls Kingsbury Morgan Racine Harrison Logan St. Joseph Fayette Hyde Montgomery Chippewa Scioto Gallia Jasper Wayne Lewis Jasper Collin Willacy Dakota Dade Posey Geauga Rio Grande Fulton Stokes Fannin Rockwall Sheridan Storey Lynchburg Clay Clark Lyon Wayne McHenry Clinton Pine Spalding Chilton Umatilla Pemiscot Grundy Greene Knox Lincoln Lincoln Pickaway Marion Cotton Rawlins Union Jackson Hamilton Perry Mercer Catoosa Lycoming Harris Johnson Hancock Mississippi Early Heard De Baca Todd Sheridan Taylor Johnson Wichita Atchison Granville Collier Jones Mathews Carver Zavala Addison Franklin Pulaski Nobles Ramsey Fannin Marshall Craighead Marquette Washington Klickitat Brooke Noble Coryell Calcasieu Beltrami Lee Oklahoma Pepin Yankton Ward Berrien Fulton Bartholomew Logan Athens Morgan Waseca Bradford Harper Clarke Greene Manatee Ware Belknap Cheboygan Teton Banks Rensselaer Alexander Franklin Monroe Mahnomen Jasper Dickinson Atchison Hayes Hardeman Atoka Lincoln Williams Cole Franklin Tift Fairfield Wabasha Washita Neshoba Boundary Shelby Alpena Hughes Howard Lee Traverse Ocean Bristol Hocking Henderson Montour Sanpete Sharp Martin Ellis Clinton Curry Emporia Cass Steele Peach Schoharie Calloway Webster Roosevelt Lincoln Windham Troup Marathon McHenry Washington Calhoun Mason Tazewell Dillon Clay Tillamook Brown Madison Lawrence Fond du Lac Polk Pushmataha Clinch Platte Oregon Decatur Vilas Portage Clarke Keokuk Warrick Kings Zapata San Francisco Greenlee Marion Teller Skagit Sedgwick Polk Monroe Chemung Pueblo Lorain Marion Douglas Uinta Rock Waynesboro Macon Monroe Sandusky Hart Walthall Crittenden Otter Tail Benton Terrell Bristol Bay Borough Jefferson Davis Morgan Davis Kaufman Johnson Jo Daviess Yalobusha Grenada Crawford Miami Newton Lea Walker Warren Todd Covington Scott Ransom Oneida Pierce Buena Vista Logan Lauderdale Rolette Vernon Brown Adair Thomas Forrest Dickson Luce Fayette Kendall Brookings Owen Greene Cannon Brown Stephens Defiance Edmunds Bullock Kenosha Graham Grant Cherokee Bolivar Ellis Calhoun Aleutians West Census Area Crowley Thomas Sevier Sangamon Hubbard Hamilton Dallas Glades Franklin Love Caledonia Jackson Manistee Fluvanna Lamar Hoonah-Angoon Census Area Chester Lewis Sullivan Rutland Reynolds Spink Hancock Sheboygan Irion Choctaw Daniels Chaves Sandoval Clarke Pike Crow Wing Mille Lacs Jeff Davis Custer Sibley Cortland Fulton Pend Oreille Arenac Cedar Alamosa Vinton Waushara McKean Audubon Becker Alleghany Lake Berks Sioux Allen Marion Story Frio Sherburne Madison Decatur Lake Moniteau Des Moines Oconto Murray Clay Drew Chase San Miguel Warren Hudson Hancock Carroll Washington Duval McNairy Jackson Echols Muskingum Bonneville Hardin Mercer Phillips Morgan Lee Iberville Johnson Tolland Franklin Newton Missaukee Fayette Perry Douglas Newaygo Huron Hot Spring Sully Richardson Lafayette Jones Meade Miami Butler Ray Van Buren Henry Sullivan Kenton Fayette Somervell Ionia Unicoi Greene Canadian Jackson Pitkin Putnam Marion Armstrong Duplin Chester Monroe Clare Madison Seminole Allen Page Treasure Sweetwater Dickinson Sharkey Noble Jerome Salem Albany Gray Randolph Ohio Jefferson Colonial Heights Koochiching Charlotte Clay Burke Mercer Holmes Caldwell Robertson White Polk Pike Dawson Orleans Menominee Musselshell Stonewall Marion Fisher Gilpin Hamilton Covington Eddy Uvalde Bollinger Piute Amite Gem Torrance Llano Shannon Meigs Carroll Washington Fulton Macoupin Otero Coos Carter Iroquois Hancock McPherson Douglas Parke Escambia Wilbarger Williamsburg Mahaska Iron Evans Miner Yellowstone Taney Scott Green Lake Randolph Dent Wabaunsee Sacramento Allamakee Lake Wayne Frontier Scott Gloucester Republic Hitchcock Lassen Perry McDonald Panola Chisago Sherman Garland Monona Miami Minidoka Park Kankakee Benton El Paso Madison Cherokee Union Christian Mifflin Stone Faribault Chickasaw Lafayette Pasco Grayson Campbell Hopewell Morgan Washington Medina Wilson Hand Union Lavaca Gonzales Creek Lumpkin Barry Cobb Eau Claire Mitchell Webster Jersey Roberts Kanabec Houghton Allegan Lehigh Carroll Montcalm Bourbon Crook Ozaukee Clayton McIntosh Cooke Corson Columbiana Nottoway Jim Wells Lee Saline Gaston Kane Washington Genesee Cheyenne Summit Pennington Chattooga Snyder Scurry Elbert Sarpy Wright Turner Beaver Rush Walworth Gosper Lipscomb Seward Atkinson Ohio Marion Lincoln Hale Carroll Dallas Pickens Putnam Kidder Hamlin Custer Foster Humboldt Alfalfa Midland Lawrence Fountain Marshall Webster Miller Walworth Richland Grady Grant Preble Guadalupe Dallas Baltimore Thurston St. Croix Brown Madison DeKalb Sac Latimer Johnson Worth Webster Bibb Cloud Wabash Schuyler Carroll Esmeralda Golden Valley Hendricks O’Brien Boone Wallace Winston Weakley Smith Prentiss Saginaw Carlton Meeker Santa Cruz Preston Marshall Burleigh Vanderburgh Skagway Municipality Bandera Butler Pocahontas Susquehanna Yuba Kleberg Franklin La Salle Pratt Morgan Bowman Fairfield Trousdale Broomfield Greene Mower Mercer Lincoln Harper Shelby Beaver Cherry Woodford Marshall Winnebago Carroll Washington Chester Kalamazoo Dallam DeKalb Randolph Norfolk Jasper Benton Crawford Whiteside Carbon LaMoure Thayer Tishomingo Greene Crawford Marshall Steuben Scott Jim Hogg Williamson Socorro Ben Hill Jackson Lincoln Pottawattamie Day DeWitt Morris Clinton Alexandria Pulaski Forsyth Leavenworth Fremont Berkshire Okmulgee Elk Clinton Butler St. Clair Van Buren Mason Appanoose Hodgeman Eastland Barry Polk Dubois Washington Potter Stark Polk Kay Skamania Pima Chambers Clark Douglas Barnwell Floyd Petersburg St. Joseph Allegany Bristol Walker Sanilac Grayson Polk Poinsett Orange Limestone Forsyth Warren Green Avery Golden Valley Jackson Warren Lincoln Chesapeake Allen Tallapoosa Colquitt Columbia Adams Glascock Decatur Linn Powder River Porter Boyle Gooding Yates Spencer Kearney Otoe Fayette Tuscaloosa Clay Kosciusko Chase Simpson Okfuskee Cherokee Roseau Box Elder Izard Rogers Hillsborough Metcalfe Calumet Wyandotte Fredericksburg Marshall McPherson Craig Schuylkill Henry Lawrence Saluda Cedar Harrison St. John the Baptist Washington Putnam Wood Pike Adams Griggs Hunt Wythe Boyd Edgefield Catawba Doniphan Belmont Montgomery Buffalo Toole Oliver St. Lawrence Pickett Dodge Franklin Furnas Grady Barber Richland Bremer Grant Carson Clay Tioga Boyd Ogle Pontotoc Muscatine Cheyenne Scott Sullivan Noxubee Lincoln Iredell Floyd Panola Sioux Gilmer Stanton Johnson Benewah Pendleton Nodaway Dodge Litchfield Saline Kerr Lake Irwin Menard Antrim Henry Stillwater Yadkin Gregory Shawnee Chowan Madison Washakie Virginia Beach Hancock Tompkins Pierce Jefferson Carbon Columbia Iron Lynn Carroll Otero Schenectady Johnston Upton Lee Rockingham Osborne McCulloch Clark Carter Transylvania Berkeley Scott Elbert Stevens Elkhart Lenawee Colfax Morgan Tuolumne Big Horn Buchanan Loudoun Glynn Williamsburg Natchitoches Kittitas Somerset Adair Tucker Routt McCone Graham Oglethorpe Moffat Hall Edwards Dade Jefferson Jefferson Norton Osceola Howard Sunflower Divide Rock Boone Stevens Sheridan Jasper Guernsey Burt Mason Pittsburg McCracken Nemaha Hartford Jasper Montrose Greer Jefferson Marion Franklin Chugach Census Area Shelby Smith Parker Shiawassee Cowley Hood Louisa Massac Dawes Gordon Steele Milwaukee Champaign Pope Lauderdale Simpson Haywood Houston Santa Fe Montague Wayne Kewaunee Fulton Stephens Wibaux Alcona St. Charles Sarasota Ottawa Sumner Vance Butler St. Louis Dane Caddo Logan Waukesha Denton Franklin Jackson Androscoggin Jackson Manassas Park Denali Borough Johnson Parmer Burnett Jackson Eaton Potter Stutsman Columbia Vigo McIntosh Cochise Butts Montgomery Ashtabula Sargent Tioga Hampton Rockdale Comanche Jefferson Winona McLean Sierra Ingham Jefferson Warren Henry Sheridan Martin Weston Wapello Catron Latah Scotland Alamance Garfield Caldwell Lincoln Fillmore Cottonwood Dooly Beaufort Live Oak Ross Clinton Washington Fillmore Clermont Adams Holt Switzerland Highland Cameron Poweshiek Wyandot Knox Penobscot Wadena Lamb Blair Garfield Brown Oktibbeha Union Randolph Ontonagon Randall Washington Giles Phelps Dunn Crittenden Bronx Karnes Liberty Carroll Indian River St. James Coffee Douglas Gage Renville Thomas Laclede Dixon Winneshiek Outagamie Jenkins Monroe Weld Platte Rockland Brunswick Albany Custer Clay Gove Kent Iosco Oldham Young Walton Chattahoochee Broome Clark Dundy Buffalo Warren Motley Gallatin Webster Auglaize Perquimans Sawyer McKinley Mason Woodson Bracken Rock Island Grant Geary Real Floyd Bingham Wayne Decatur Dubuque Chittenden Richland White Mecosta Jefferson Lapeer Potter Towns Lincoln Sussex Wexford Crook Morrow Mills Harding Payne Sweet Grass Oceana Decatur Jeff Davis Clay Gentry Campbell Asotin Candler Tom Green Licking Woodbury Hotter, less rainfall Hotter, more rainfall Cooler, less rainfall Cooler, more rainfall Washington, D.C. ↑ Hotter than average ↓ Cooler More rainfall than average → ← Less rainfall
About 130 million people, roughly 39 percent of the population, sweated through temperatures at least 2 degrees above normal. Less than 1 percent of Americans, mainly living in counties in the Upper Midwest, had a cooler-than-normal summer.
“When we see anomalous heat covering broad areas, that’s consistent with the temperature change that we anticipate happening more and more frequently,” said David Gutzler, a climate scientist and emeritus professor at the University of New Mexico. “These days, warmer than normal is the average season temperature prediction in most places.”
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The extra heat was not distributed equally. Texans endured weeks of above-average triple-digit temperatures, including a record-breaking July. The Post found that from June to August the state’s average temperature was 3.2 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the 50-year average.
Experts at NOAA reported that Texas had its second-hottest summer on record, as did Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where scorching heat and air conditioning are less common. In 17 other states across the West, South and Northeast, this summer was among the top 10 warmest summers on record.
[More dangerous heat waves are on the way. See the impact where you live.]
In the last 50 years, the warmest summer in Washington, D.C. , was in , with NaN°F above the average.
Loading… Annual summer temperature change in Washington, D.C. – 10-year rolling avg. avg.
John Nielsen-Gammon, the state climatologist for Texas and a professor at Texas A&M University, said the extreme summer weather was the result of an unusually dry spring coupled with the hottest April and May on record — similar conditions to those that led to the state’s hottest summer in 2011.
Extreme summertime heat is going to become “more and more likely,” Nielsen-Gammon said. “In three decades, what we saw this summer ought to be pretty close to normal.”
Nationwide, more than 7,000 daily temperature records were broken this summer, a Post analysis revealed, along with 400 monthly records and 27 all-time records.
This summer, Washington, D.C. , saw an average daytime high of 87.0 °F.
Loading… Daily high temperatures in Washington, D.C. The hottest day averaged at the county level was on , at . 2022 2012-2021
The Pacific Northwest experienced another spike in abnormally high summer temperatures, though not as severe as 2021′s deadly heat wave. The Post found that Oregon was 2.9 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the 50-year average and Washington was 2.5 degrees hotter. In both states, temperatures in August were the hottest on record.
In the Northeast, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New Jersey also boiled this August, breaking records.
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The hotter it gets, the greater the danger. This is especially true for older people, infants and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, who are at increased risk of illness and death from heat exposure. The urban heat island effect and unequal access to air conditioning mean that poorer Americans and people of color bear the brunt of intensifying heat.
The Post’s analysis reflects averaged temperature data across each county. It does not include humidity, which is a complicating factor. Throughout the Southeast, high heat combined with humidity has made rising temperatures more painful for residents. The higher the humidity, the more difficult it becomes for sweat on the skin to evaporate, blocking the body’s ability to cool down.
Nights are warming at a slightly higher rate than days in most parts of the United States, according to the most recent National Climate Assessment, and this makes it harder for people to recover after hot days.
This summer, nights in Washington, D.C. , saw an average high temperature of 67.0 °F.
Loading… Daily overnight high temperatures in Washington, D.C. The hottest night averaged at the county level was on , at . 2022 2012-2021
This summer also delivered powerful storms. Over a period of five weeks, there were five “1,000 year” events, meaning there is only a 0.1 percent chance that one like it will occur in any given year.
From the end of July into August, Kentucky; St. Louis; eastern Illinois; Death Valley, Calif.; and the Dallas-Fort Worth area experienced rain that flooded neighborhoods, collapsed homes and turned highways into rivers. In hard-hit areas, some residents were killed by the storms and others had to flee their homes.
Though many factors can lead to flooding, experts say that human-caused climate change is supercharging what would otherwise be typical summer rainstorms.
Across the United States, this summer delivered more rainfall than normal along the West Coast and through much of the Southwest, Midwest, lower Mississippi Valley and northern New England, according to NOAA. Yet there were also pockets of below-average precipitation in southern New England and across the Great Plains and, on the whole, the summer was slightly drier than normal.
This summer, Washington, D.C. , had more rainfall than the average of the past 50 years, with 41 days of rain and 13 inches of total rainfall.
Summer 2022 total precipitation Percent change from 50-year avg. Loading data… Note: Data for Hawaii is not available
Experts said that this summer’s rainfall helped alleviate drought conditions in some parts of the country, reducing demand for water to sustain farmland and golf courses. In the Southwest, the early arrival of monsoon rains and thunderstorms caused flooding and debris flows, but they also benefited the region by bringing about the end of a devastating wildfire season.
All that rain brought temporary relief. But it didn’t change the long-term outlook in the parched region, which is experiencing the worst multi-decade drought in at least 1,200 years. That’s because most major rivers in the West are fed by the winter snowpack, which has been diminished by worsening heat and dryness.
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The intensity of summer monsoons temporarily raises the level of reservoirs and rivers, but much of that rainfall is eventually lost through evaporation. And soil that has been baked by extreme heat is also less able to absorb heavy rains, increasing runoff.
“A wet summer helps a lot. It greens up shrubs and grasses and wets the soils, which is a good thing. It prevents trees that were horribly stressed from dying. All that is good,” Gutzler said. “But we’re not out of the woods.”
