Introduction
The U.S. is a large country, stretching across an entire continent and even a little beyond. As such, it is home to multiple weather phenomena and varying temperatures across the 50 states.
The U.S has several different climate zones which affect the average temperatures of states as well as the effects of the seasons. If you go from north to south, you would find that the temperature gradually increases. If you go from east to west, one would notice that the air gradually gets drier until you hit the arid plains and deserts along the west coast, beyond the rocky mountains. These temperature patterns can be explained by proximity to the equator or by geographic features/topography.
The highest recorded temperature in the U.S. was 134F in Death Valley, California. This is due to the arid nature of the region as well as the effects of climate change. However, this result by itself doesn’t make California the hottest state in the U.S. The average temperatures of a state are measured by tabulating recorded temperatures over a period of time.
To see which states rank highest and lowest in average temperatures, take a look at the data in the charts.
| # | State | Average Temperature | Temperature Deviation from 20th Century | Average Temperature Historical Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 73.4 °F | 2.1 °F | 119 |
| 2 | Louisiana | 68.5 °F | 1.1 °F | 109 |
| 3 | Texas | 68 °F | 1.5 °F | 113 |
| 4 | Georgia | 66.2 °F | 1.2 °F | 110 |
| 5 | Mississippi | 66.1 °F | 1.2 °F | 108 |
| 6 | Alabama | 65.4 °F | 1.2 °F | 110 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 65.4 °F | 1.4 °F | 112 |
| 8 | Arizona | 62.9 °F | 2.8 °F | 122 |
| 9 | Arkansas | 62.8 °F | 0.8 °F | 96 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 62.8 °F | 1.1 °F | 108 |
| 11 | California | 61.7 °F | 3 °F | 124 |
| 12 | North Carolina | 61.7 °F | 1.6 °F | 112 |
| 13 | Tennessee | 60.1 °F | 1.4 °F | 108 |
| 14 | Kentucky | 58.1 °F | 1.5 °F | 108 |
| 15 | Delaware | 58 °F | 3.2 °F | 123 |
| 16 | Virginia | 58 °F | 2.3 °F | 121 |
| 17 | Maryland | 57.5 °F | 3.1 °F | 124 |
| 18 | Kansas | 57.4 °F | 2 °F | 111 |
| 19 | Missouri | 57 °F | 1.8 °F | 112 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 56.2 °F | 2.5 °F | 121 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 56 °F | 3.7 °F | 124 |
| 22 | Illinois | 54 °F | 2.1 °F | 118 |
| 23 | Indiana | 54 °F | 2.2 °F | 120 |
| 24 | West Virginia | 54 °F | 2 °F | 117 |
| 25 | Ohio | 53.5 °F | 2.8 °F | 123 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | 53.5 °F | 4 °F | 125 |
| 27 | Nevada | 53.4 °F | 3 °F | 124 |
| 28 | Connecticut | 52.5 °F | 3.3 °F | 123 |
| 29 | Nebraska | 52 °F | 2.7 °F | 122 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 51.8 °F | 3.8 °F | 125 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | 51.4 °F | 3.1 °F | 125 |
| 32 | Utah | 51.3 °F | 3.2 °F | 125 |
| 33 | Iowa | 49.9 °F | 2.5 °F | 119 |
| 34 | Oregon | 49.9 °F | 2.7 °F | 123 |
| 35 | Washington | 49 °F | 2.1 °F | 119 |
| 36 | New York | 48.2 °F | 3.2 °F | 124 |
| 37 | Colorado | 47.9 °F | 2.9 °F | 124 |
| 38 | South Dakota | 47.9 °F | 3.5 °F | 121 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | 46.9 °F | 3.8 °F | 126 |
| 40 | Michigan | 46.7 °F | 3.8 °F | 125 |
| 41 | Vermont | 45.7 °F | 3.7 °F | 124 |
| 42 | Idaho | 45.3 °F | 2.8 °F | 125 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | 45 °F | 3.3 °F | 121 |
| 44 | Maine | 44.9 °F | 4.2 °F | 126 |
| 45 | Montana | 44.6 °F | 2.8 °F | 117 |
| 46 | Wyoming | 43.9 °F | 2.9 °F | 122 |
| 47 | Minnesota | 42.5 °F | 4.2 °F | 121 |
| 48 | North Dakota | 42.4 °F | 4.1 °F | 123 |
| 49 | Alaska | 30.7 °F |
Average Temperature by State
Alabama
65.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#6
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#43
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
110
Ranked in the US
#41
Alaska
30.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#49
Arizona
62.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#8
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#22
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
122
Ranked in the US
#21
Arkansas
62.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#9
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
0.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#48
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
96
Ranked in the US
#48
California
61.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#11
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3 °F
Ranked in the US
#18
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
124
Ranked in the US
#9
Colorado
47.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#37
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#20
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
124
Ranked in the US
#10
Connecticut
52.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#28
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.3 °F
Ranked in the US
#11
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
123
Ranked in the US
#16
Delaware
58 °F
Ranked in the US
#15
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#13
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
123
Ranked in the US
#17
Florida
73.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#1
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#32
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
119
Ranked in the US
#30
Georgia
66.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#4
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#44
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
110
Ranked in the US
#42
Idaho
45.3 °F
Ranked in the US
#42
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#23
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
125
Ranked in the US
#3
Illinois
54 °F
Ranked in the US
#22
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#33
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
118
Ranked in the US
#33
Indiana
54 °F
Ranked in the US
#23
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#31
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
120
Ranked in the US
#29
Iowa
49.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#33
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#28
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
119
Ranked in the US
#31
Kansas
57.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#18
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2 °F
Ranked in the US
#35
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
111
Ranked in the US
#40
Kentucky
58.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#14
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#39
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
108
Ranked in the US
#44
Louisiana
68.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#2
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#46
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
109
Ranked in the US
#43
Maine
44.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#44
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
4.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#1
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
126
Ranked in the US
#1
Maryland
57.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#17
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#16
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
124
Ranked in the US
#11
Massachusetts
51.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#30
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#5
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
125
Ranked in the US
#4
Michigan
46.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#40
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#6
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
125
Ranked in the US
#5
Minnesota
42.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#47
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
4.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#2
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
121
Ranked in the US
#24
Mississippi
66.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#5
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#45
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
108
Ranked in the US
#45
Missouri
57 °F
Ranked in the US
#19
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#37
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
112
Ranked in the US
#37
Montana
44.6 °F
Ranked in the US
#45
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#24
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
117
Ranked in the US
#34
Nebraska
52 °F
Ranked in the US
#29
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#26
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
122
Ranked in the US
#22
Nevada
53.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#27
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3 °F
Ranked in the US
#19
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
124
Ranked in the US
#12
New Hampshire
46.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#39
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#7
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
126
Ranked in the US
#2
New Jersey
56 °F
Ranked in the US
#21
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#8
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
124
Ranked in the US
#13
New Mexico
56.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#20
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#29
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
121
Ranked in the US
#25
New York
48.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#36
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#14
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
124
Ranked in the US
#14
North Carolina
61.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#12
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.6 °F
Ranked in the US
#38
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
112
Ranked in the US
#38
North Dakota
42.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#48
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
4.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#3
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
123
Ranked in the US
#18
Ohio
53.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#25
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#25
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
123
Ranked in the US
#19
Oklahoma
62.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#10
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#47
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
108
Ranked in the US
#46
Oregon
49.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#34
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#27
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
123
Ranked in the US
#20
Pennsylvania
51.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#31
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#17
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
125
Ranked in the US
#6
Rhode Island
53.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#26
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
4 °F
Ranked in the US
#4
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
125
Ranked in the US
#7
South Carolina
65.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#7
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#41
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
112
Ranked in the US
#39
South Dakota
47.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#38
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#10
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
121
Ranked in the US
#26
Tennessee
60.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#13
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#42
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
108
Ranked in the US
#47
Texas
68 °F
Ranked in the US
#3
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
1.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#40
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
113
Ranked in the US
#36
Utah
51.3 °F
Ranked in the US
#32
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#15
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
125
Ranked in the US
#8
Vermont
45.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#41
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#9
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
124
Ranked in the US
#15
Virginia
58 °F
Ranked in the US
#16
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.3 °F
Ranked in the US
#30
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
121
Ranked in the US
#27
Washington
49 °F
Ranked in the US
#35
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#34
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
119
Ranked in the US
#32
West Virginia
54 °F
Ranked in the US
#24
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2 °F
Ranked in the US
#36
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
117
Ranked in the US
#35
Wisconsin
45 °F
Ranked in the US
#43
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
3.3 °F
Ranked in the US
#12
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
121
Ranked in the US
#28
Wyoming
43.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#46
Temperature Deviation from 20th Century
2.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#21
Average Temperature Historical Ranking
122
Ranked in the US
#23