The Hottest States in the U.S.

Here are the 10 hottest states in the United States ranked by monthly average temperatures, along with the hottest temperature ever recorded for each state.

The Hottest States in the U.S.

1) Hawaii

No shocker here. Hawaii is located in the South Pacific and has an average monthly temperature of 71.61. However, the highest temperature ever recorded in Hawaii is just 100 degrees in Pahala on April 27, 1931. Pahala is 850 feet above sea level.

2) Florida

Another obvious place the Sunshine State is the furthest south of the lower 48 states. Florida has an average monthly temperature of 70.73. But like Hawaii the highest temperature ever recorded in Florida is not really that high. On June 29, 1931 it was 109 degrees in Monticello, Florida which has an elevation of just 207 feet.

3) Louisiana

The Bayou State rings in 3rd with an average monthly temperature of 66.39 which is over 4 degrees less than Florida and 5 less than Hawaii. Quite big differences. The highest temperature ever recorded in Louisiana is 114 degrees which occurred on August 10, 1936 in Plain Dealing with an elevation of 268 feet.

4) Texas

The Lone Star State can sure get hot and has an average monthly temperature of 64.83. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Texas is 120 degrees in Seymour on August 12, 1936 with an elevation of 1,291 feet.

5) Georgia

Guess peaches grow best in hot weather as the Peach State ranks 5th with an average monthly temperature of 63.51. The highest temperature ever recorded in Georgia is 112 degrees which occurred on July 24, 1952 in Louisville with an elevation of just 132 feet. Georgia's highest temperature is 3 degrees above Florida's highest.

6) Mississippi

The Magnolia State is the poorest state in the U.S. and ranks as the 6th hottest with an average monthly temperature of 63.35. Hottest temperature ever recorded in Mississippi is 115 on July 19, 1930 in Holly Springs with an elevation of 600 feet.

7) Alabama

The Yellowhammer State ranks 7th with an average monthly temperature of 62.77. The highest temperature ever recorded in Alabama is 112 which occurred on September 5, 1925 in Centerville with an elevation of 345 feet. Summer football practices must be hot, hot, hot for the Crimson Tide at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

8) South Carolina

The Palmetto State rings in 8th with an average monthly temperature of 62.42. The highest temperature ever recorded in South Carolina is 111 which occurred June 28, 1954 in Camden with an elevation of 170 feet. Seems like it's been hotter than that in Myrtle Beach sometimes.

9) Arkansas

The Natural State formerly known as the Opportunity State ranks 9th with an average monthly temperature of 60.42. The highest temperature ever recorded in Arkansas is 120 degrees which occurred on August 10, 1936 in Ozark with an elevation of 396 feet.

10) Arizona

The Copper State rounds out the list with an average monthly temperature of 60.31. The highest temperature ever recorded in Arizona is 128 degrees which occurred on June 29, 1994 in Lake Havasu with an elevation of 505 feet. 

The 128 degrees ranks 2nd among states with the hottest temperature ever recorded in the United States being 134 degrees at Death Valley in California on July 10, 1913. California the state ranks 12th in terms of average monthly temperatures right behind Oklahoma.

The list is dominated by the Deep South with 7 states or 8 if you want to include Texas as part of the Deep South. The real key to the list is the moderate climates in these states. None of them get really cold for any prolonged periods of time. 

The real surprise is the hottest temperatures ever recorded in most of these states. Only Texas, Arkansas and Arizona have ever been above 115 degrees, and the top two states with the highest average monthly temperatures rank last in terms of highest temperatures ever recorded out of the ten. 

The biggest shock of all is that the temperature in Hawaii has never been above 100 degrees. Who would have guessed that?

List of Sources: http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/hottest_coldest_us_states.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wheat7.htm