In this article, U.S. state and territory temperature extremes will be approached from a comprehensive and deep perspective, exploring its multiple facets and consequences in various areas of life. Through a detailed and thoughtful analysis, we will seek to fully understand the importance and impact that U.S. state and territory temperature extremes has on today's society, as well as the possible solutions or alternatives to the challenges it poses. Different approaches and points of view will be examined to offer a holistic and enriching vision of U.S. state and territory temperature extremes, with the aim of promoting debate and critical reflection on this topic that is so relevant today.
The following table lists the highest and lowest temperatures recorded in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the 5 inhabited U.S. territories during the past two centuries, in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. If two dates have the same temperature record (e.g. record low of 40 °F or 4.4 °C in 1911 in Aibonito and 1966 in San Sebastian in Puerto Rico), only the most recent date is shown.
State, federal district, or territory |
Record high temperature |
Date | Place(s) | Record low temperature |
Date | Place(s) | Difference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 112 °F (44.4 °C) | September 6, 1925 | Centreville | −27 °F (−32.8 °C) | January 30, 1966 | New Market | 139 °F (77.2 °C) |
Alaska | 100 °F (37.8 °C) | June 27, 1915 | Fort Yukon | −80 °F (−62.2 °C) | January 23, 1971 | Prospect Creek | 180 °F (100 °C) |
American Samoa[note 1] | 99 °F (37.2 °C) | April 27, 1972[note 2] | Malaeloa/Aitulagi | 53 °F (11.7 °C) | March 28, 1962 | Malaeloa/Aitulagi | 46 °F (25.6 °C) |
Arizona | 128 °F (53.3 °C) | June 29, 1994 | Lake Havasu City | −40 °F (−40 °C) | January 7, 1971 | McNary | 168 °F (93.3 °C) |
Arkansas | 120 °F (48.9 °C) | August 10, 1936 | Ozark | −29 °F (−33.9 °C) | February 13, 1905 | Gravette | 149 °F (82.8 °C) |
California | 134 °F (56.7 °C) | July 10, 1913 | Greenland Ranch (Death Valley) | −45 °F (−42.8 °C) | January 20, 1937 | Boca | 179 °F (99.4 °C) |
Colorado | 115 °F (46.1 °C) | July 20, 2019 | John Martin Reservoir | −61 °F (−51.7 °C) | February 1, 1985 | Maybell | 176 °F (97.8 °C) |
Connecticut | 106 °F (41.1 °C) | July 15, 1995 | Danbury | −37 °F (−38.3 °C) | February 16, 1943 | Norfolk | 143 °F (79.4 °C) |
Delaware | 110 °F (43.3 °C) | July 21, 1930 | Millsboro | −17 °F (−27.2 °C) | January 17, 1893 | Millsboro | 127 °F (70.6 °C) |
District of Columbia | 106 °F (41.1 °C) | July 20, 1930[note 2] | Washington | −15 °F (−26.1 °C) | February 11, 1899 | Washington | 121 °F (67.2 °C) |
Florida | 108 °F (42.2 °C) | June 29, 1931 | Monticello | −2 °F (−18.9 °C) | February 13, 1899 | Tallahassee | 111 °F (61.7 °C) |
Georgia | 112 °F (44.4 °C) | August 20, 1983[note 2] | Greenville | −17 °F (−27.2 °C) | January 27, 1940 | Chatsworth | 129 °F (71.7 °C) |
Guam | 100 °F (37.8 °C) | September 10, 1945 | Sånta Rita-Sumai | 56 °F (13.3 °C) | May 31, 1987 | Inalåhan | 44 °F (24.4 °C) |
Hawaii | 100 °F (37.8 °C) | April 27, 1931 | Pahala | 15 °F (−9.4 °C) | January 5, 1975 | Mauna Kea Observatories | 83 °F (46 °C) |
Idaho | 118 °F (47.8 °C) | July 28, 1934 | Orofino | −60 °F (−51.1 °C) | January 18, 1943 | Island Park | 178 °F (98.9 °C) |
Illinois | 117 °F (47.2 °C) | July 14, 1954 | East Saint Louis | −38 °F (−38.9 °C) | January 31, 2019 | Mount Carroll | 155 °F (86.1 °C) |
Indiana | 116 °F (46.7 °C) | July 14, 1936 | Collegeville | −36 °F (−37.8 °C) | January 19, 1994 | New Whiteland | 152 °F (84.4 °C) |
Iowa | 118 °F (47.8 °C) | July 20, 1934 | Keokuk | −47 °F (−43.9 °C) | February 3, 1996[note 2] | Elkader | 165 °F (91.7 °C) |
Kansas | 121 °F (49.4 °C) | July 24, 1936[note 2] | Alton | −40 °F (−40.0 °C) | February 13, 1905 | Lebanon | 161 °F (89.4 °C) |
Kentucky | 116 °F (46.7 °C) | July 28, 1930 | Louisville | −37 °F (−38.3 °C) | January 19, 1994 | Shelbyville | 151 °F (83.9 °C) |
Louisiana | 114 °F (45.6 °C) | August 10, 1936 | Plain Dealing | −16 °F (−26.7 °C) | February 13, 1899 | Minden | 130 °F (72.2 °C) |
Maine | 105 °F (40.6 °C) | July 10, 1911[note 2] | North Bridgton | −50 °F (−45.6 °C) | January 16, 2009 | Clayton Lake | 155 °F (86.1 °C) |
Maryland | 109 °F (42.8 °C) | July 10, 1936[note 2] | Cumberland | −40 °F (−40 °C) | January 13, 1912 | Oakland | 149 °F (82.8 °C) |
Massachusetts | 107 °F (41.7 °C) | August 2, 1975 | New Bedford | −40 °F (−40 °C) | January 22, 1984 | Chester | 147 °F (81.7 °C) |
Michigan | 112 °F (44.4 °C) | July 13, 1936 | Mio | −51 °F (−46.1 °C) | February 9, 1934 | Vanderbilt | 163 °F (90.6 °C) |
Minnesota | 115 °F (46.1 °C) | July 29, 1917 | Beardsley | −60 °F (−51.1 °C) | February 2, 1996 | Tower | 175 °F (97.2 °C) |
Mississippi | 115 °F (46.1 °C) | July 29, 1930 | Holly Springs | −19 °F (−28.3 °C) | January 30, 1966 | Corinth | 134 °F (74.4 °C) |
Missouri | 118 °F (47.8 °C) | July 14, 1954[note 2] | Warsaw | −40 °F (−40 °C) | February 13, 1905 | Warsaw | 158 °F (87.8 °C) |
Montana | 117 °F (47.2 °C) | July 5, 1937 | Medicine Lake | −70 °F (−56.7 °C) | January 20, 1954 | Lincoln (Rogers Pass) | 187 °F (103.9 °C) |
Nebraska | 118 °F (47.8 °C) | July 24, 1936[note 2] | Minden | −47 °F (−43.9 °C) | December 22, 1989[note 2] | Oshkosh | 165 °F (91.7 °C) |
Nevada | 125 °F (51.7 °C) | June 29, 1994 | Laughlin | −50 °F (−45.6 °C) | January 8, 1937 | San Jacinto | 175 °F (97.2 °C) |
New Hampshire | 106 °F (41.1 °C) | July 4, 1911 | Nashua | −50 °F (−45.6 °C) | January 22, 1885 | Mount Washington | 156 °F (86.7 °C) |
New Jersey | 110 °F (43.3 °C) | July 10, 1936 | Runyon | −34 °F (−36.7 °C) | January 5, 1904 | River Vale | 144 °F (80 °C) |
New Mexico | 122 °F (50 °C) | June 27, 1994 | Waste Isolation Pilot Plant | −57 °F (−49.4 °C) | January 13, 1963 | Ciniza | 179 °F (99.4 °C) |
New York | 108 °F (42.2 °C) | July 22, 1926 | Troy | −52 °F (−46.7 °C) | February 18, 1979[note 2] | Old Forge | 160 °F (88.9 °C) |
North Carolina | 110 °F (43.3 °C) | August 21, 1983 | Fayetteville | −34 °F (−36.7 °C) | January 21, 1985 | Burnsville | 144 °F (80 °C) |
North Dakota | 121 °F (49.4 °C) | July 6, 1936 | Steele | −60 °F (−51.1 °C) | February 15, 1936 | Parshall | 181 °F (100.6 °C) |
Northern Mariana Islands[note 3] | 99 °F (37.2 °C) | July 8, 2010 | Saipan | 62 °F (16.7 °C) | December 15, 2000 | Saipan | 37 °F (20.6 °C) |
Ohio | 113 °F (45 °C) | July 21, 1934 | Gallipolis | −39 °F (−39.4 °C) | February 10, 1899 | Milligan | 152 °F (84.4 °C) |
Oklahoma | 120 °F (48.9 °C) | June 27, 1994[note 2] | Tipton | −31 °F (−35.0 °C) | February 10, 2011 | Nowata | 151 °F (83.9 °C) |
Oregon | 119 °F (48.3 °C) | June 29, 2021[note 2] | Pelton Dam | −54 °F (−47.8 °C) | February 10, 1933[note 2] | Seneca | 172 °F (96 °C) |
Pennsylvania | 111 °F (43.9 °C) | July 10, 1936[note 2] | Phoenixville | −42 °F (−41.1 °C) | January 5, 1904 | Smethport | 153 °F (85 °C) |
Puerto Rico | 104 °F (40 °C) | July 2, 1996 | Isla de Mona (Mayagüez) | 40 °F (4.4 °C) | January 24, 1966[note 2] | San Sebastián | 64 °F (35.6 °C) |
Rhode Island | 104 °F (40 °C) | August 2, 1975 | Providence | −28 °F (−33.3 °C) | January 17, 1942 | Richmond | 132 °F (73.3 °C) |
South Carolina | 113 °F (45 °C) | June 29, 2012 | Columbia | −22 °F (−30 °C) | January 21, 1985 | Landrum (Hogback Mountain) | 135 °F (75 °C) |
South Dakota | 120 °F (48.9 °C) | July 15, 2006[note 2] | Fort Pierre[note 2] | −60 °F (−51 °C) | December 22, 1989 | Rochford | 180 °F (100.0 °C) |
Tennessee | 113 °F (45 °C) | August 9, 1930[note 2] | Perryville | −32 °F (−35.6 °C) | December 30, 1917 | Mountain City | 145 °F (80.6 °C) |
Texas | 120 °F (48.9 °C) | June 28, 1994[note 2] | Monahans | −23 °F (−30.6 °C) | February 8, 1933[note 2] | Seminole | 143 °F (79.4 °C) |
Utah | 120 °F (48.9 °C) | July 5, 2007 | Lake Powell | −69 °F (−56.1 °C) | February 1, 1985 | Peter Sinks | 189 °F (105.0 °C) |
Vermont | 105 °F (40.6 °C) | July 4, 1911 | Vernon | −50 °F (−45.6 °C) | December 30, 1933 | Bloomfield | 155 °F (86.1 °C) |
Virgin Islands (U.S.) | 99 °F (37.2 °C) | June 23, 1996[note 2] | Charlotte Amalie West (Cyril E. King Airport) |
51 °F (10.6 °C) | January 31, 1954 | Anna's Hope (Saint Croix) | 48 °F (26.7 °C) |
Virginia | 110 °F (43.3 °C) | July 15, 1954 | Balcony Falls | −30 °F (−34.4 °C) | January 22, 1985 | Pembroke | 140 °F (77.8 °C) |
Washington | 120 °F (48.9 °C) | June 29, 2021 | Hanford Site | −48 °F (−44.4 °C) | December 30, 1968 | Winthrop | 168 °F (93.3 °C) |
West Virginia | 112 °F (44.4 °C) | July 10, 1936[note 2] | Martinsburg | −37 °F (−38.3 °C) | December 30, 1917 | Lewisburg | 149 °F (82.8 °C) |
Wisconsin | 114 °F (45.6 °C) | July 13, 1936 | Wisconsin Dells | −55 °F (−48.3 °C) | February 4, 1996 | Couderay | 169 °F (93.9 °C) |
Wyoming | 116 °F (46.7 °C) | July 12, 1900 | Bitter Creek | −66 °F (−54.4 °C) | February 9, 1933 | Riverside Ranger Station | 182 °F (101.1 °C) |
Unreferenced data assumed to be from NOAA
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