🚨 100°F temperatures are now a reality in all 50 U.S. states — including Alaska.
Here’s a map of the hottest recorded temperatures.
Extreme heat is not confined to the deserts of the American Southwest; it is a nationwide reality. Death Valley, California, famously holds the global and national record with a blistering 134°F (56.7°C) measured in 1913.
However, triple-digit temperatures have breached every single state, including Alaska and Hawaii, which both share an all-time record of exactly 100°F (37.8°C). Even northern states situated near the Canadian border have faced scorching conditions, such as North Dakota reaching a staggering 121°F (49.4°C) during the infamous 1936 Dust Bowl, and Washington setting a new high of 120°F (48.9°C) during the historic 2021 Pacific Northwest heatwave.
While the vast majority of these state-level extremes occurred during the peak of July and August, unusual early-season anomalies demonstrate that intense heat can strike at any time of the year.
Beyond the traditionally warm states, northern and eastern regions like Minnesota and Missouri have climbed to 115°F (46.1°C) and 118°F (47.8°C) respectively, while Rhode Island has reached 104°F (40°C). As massive high-pressure domes continue to blanket the country and push temperatures to dangerous new heights, meteorologists warn that many of these decades-old, long-standing records may soon be shattered.
source: National Centers for Environmental Information. (2024). U.S. State and Territory Temperature Extremes. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.