This Is the State Where the Temperature Is Rising the Fastest

By Douglas A. McIntyre Published Jun 10, 10:00AM EDT

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This Is the State Where the Temperature Is Rising the Fastest — © Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

Global warming has become a critical part of the conversations about the future of humanity. Temperatures in some parts of the world have risen so much these areas have become barely habitable to humans. The April temperature readings in India were the highest on record for any April in history. Major cities in the second most populated country in the world suffered through temperatures of over 110 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Environmentalists say the situation will only get worse.

High temperatures also cause oceans to rise as polar ice melts. There are almost two dozen large cities where rising water could push millions of people out of their homes. These include massive cities like New York and Hong Kong. (These are 25 cities where rising seas could leave millions homeless.)

Humans are not the only living things affected by the rise in the world’s temperature. The Hill reported that “According to a recent report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, an estimated 1 million species are currently at risk.” (These are 10 climate tipping points the world needs to avoid at all costs.)

Most of the headlines about climate change in America involve 100 degree temperatures, which can linger in cities like Phoenix for weeks. Press coverage also goes to the droughts that could eventually leave millions of Americans in Western states low on water, permanently.

Another staggering fact is the pace at which temperatures across America have risen over the last 125 years. The average temperature across the contiguous 48 states climbed by 8.3%, from 50.3 degrees Fahrenheit in 1895 to 54.5 degrees Fahrenheit in 2021 temperatures have not risen uniformly nationwide. But temperatures have not risen uniformly nationwide.

To determine the states where average temperatures are rising fastest, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed state-level average annual temperature from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. States are ranked by the percent change in the statewide average annual temperature from 1895 to 2021. Due to a lack of sufficient data, Alaska and Hawaii are excluded.

In several states, the increase in temperature over that time period is greater than 13%. In North Dakota, temperatures have risen the most over the period, up 17.7%.

Click here to see the state where temperature is rising the fastest

48. Arkansas
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +3.9% (+2.3 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 61.2 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 58.9 deg. Fahrenheit

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47. Georgia
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +4.0% (+2.5 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 64.5 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 62.0 deg. Fahrenheit

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46. Louisiana
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +4.2% (+2.7 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 67.5 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 64.8 deg. Fahrenheit

45. Alabama
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +4.2% (+2.6 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 64.2 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 61.6 deg. Fahrenheit

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44. Mississippi
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +4.3% (+2.7 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 64.8 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 62.1 deg. Fahrenheit

43. South Carolina
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +4.6% (+2.8 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 63.8 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 61.0 deg. Fahrenheit

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42. Florida
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +5.1% (+3.5 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 72.2 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 68.7 deg. Fahrenheit

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41. Tennessee
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +5.2% (+2.9 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 59.1 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 56.2 deg. Fahrenheit

40. Oklahoma
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +5.2% (+3.0 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 60.8 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 57.8 deg. Fahrenheit

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39. North Carolina
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +5.6% (+3.2 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 60.1 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 56.9 deg. Fahrenheit

38. Kentucky
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +6.1% (+3.3 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 57.0 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 53.7 deg. Fahrenheit

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37. Texas
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +6.3% (+3.9 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 66.2 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 62.3 deg. Fahrenheit

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36. Arizona
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +6.3% (+3.7 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 62.2 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 58.5 deg. Fahrenheit

35. West Virginia
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +6.3% (+3.2 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 53.6 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 50.4 deg. Fahrenheit

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34. Missouri
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +6.4% (+3.4 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 56.3 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 52.9 deg. Fahrenheit

33. California
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +6.7% (+3.8 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 60.3 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 56.5 deg. Fahrenheit

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32. Washington
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +6.9% (+3.1 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 48.3 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 45.2 deg. Fahrenheit

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31. Kansas
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +7.1% (+3.7 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 56.1 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 52.4 deg. Fahrenheit

30. Virginia
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +7.1% (+3.8 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 57.0 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 53.2 deg. Fahrenheit

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29. Indiana
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +7.4% (+3.7 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 53.6 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 49.9 deg. Fahrenheit

28. New Mexico
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +8.0% (+4.1 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 55.3 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 51.2 deg. Fahrenheit

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27. Illinois
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +8.2% (+4.1 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 53.8 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 49.7 deg. Fahrenheit

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26. Iowa
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +8.5% (+3.9 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 50.0 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 46.1 deg. Fahrenheit

25. Ohio
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +8.6% (+4.2 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 53.2 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 49.0 deg. Fahrenheit

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24. Delaware
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +8.9% (+4.7 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 57.4 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 52.7 deg. Fahrenheit

23. Nevada
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +8.9% (+4.3 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 52.5 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 48.2 deg. Fahrenheit

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22. Nebraska
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +9.2% (+4.3 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 51.0 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 46.7 deg. Fahrenheit

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21. Maryland
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +9.2% (+4.8 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 56.9 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 52.1 deg. Fahrenheit

20. New York
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +9.7% (+4.2 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 47.7 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 43.5 deg. Fahrenheit

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19. Idaho
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +9.7% (+4.0 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 45.4 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 41.4 deg. Fahrenheit

18. Pennsylvania
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +9.9% (+4.6 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 51.2 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 46.6 deg. Fahrenheit

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17. Rhode Island
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +10.3% (+4.9 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 52.6 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 47.7 deg. Fahrenheit

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16. Connecticut
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +10.3% (+4.8 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 51.4 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 46.6 deg. Fahrenheit

15. New Jersey
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +10.6% (+5.3 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 55.1 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 49.8 deg. Fahrenheit

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14. Wisconsin
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +10.7% (+4.4 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 45.7 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 41.3 deg. Fahrenheit

13. Massachusetts
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +10.7% (+4.9 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 50.8 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 45.9 deg. Fahrenheit

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12. Vermont
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +10.8% (+4.4 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 45.0 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 40.6 deg. Fahrenheit

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11. Oregon
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +11.1% (+4.9 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 49.2 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 44.3 deg. Fahrenheit

10. New Hampshire
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +11.1% (+4.6 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 46.1 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 41.5 deg. Fahrenheit

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9. Colorado
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +12.0% (+5.1 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 47.5 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 42.4 deg. Fahrenheit

8. Utah
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +12.2% (+5.5 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 50.7 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 45.2 deg. Fahrenheit

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7. Maine
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +12.2% (+4.8 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 44.2 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 39.4 deg. Fahrenheit

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6. Montana
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +12.8% (+5.0 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 44.0 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 39.0 deg. Fahrenheit

5. South Dakota
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +13.2% (+5.6 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 48.0 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 42.4 deg. Fahrenheit

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4. Michigan
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +13.7% (+5.7 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 47.4 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 41.7 deg. Fahrenheit

3. Minnesota
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +14.8% (+5.7 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 44.3 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 38.6 deg. Fahrenheit

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2. Wyoming
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +15.0% (+5.7 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 43.6 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 37.9 deg. Fahrenheit

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1. North Dakota
> Change in avg. annual temp., 1895-2021: +17.7% (+6.6 deg. Fahrenheit)
> Avg. annual temp., 2021: 43.8 deg. Fahrenheit
> Avg. annual temp., 1895: 37.2 deg. Fahrenheit

About the Author Douglas A. McIntyre →

Douglas A. McIntyre is the co-founder, chief executive officer and editor in chief of 24/7 Wall St. and 24/7 Tempo. He has held these jobs since 2006.

McIntyre has written thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St. He is an expert on corporate finance, the automotive industry, media companies and international finance. He has edited articles on national demographics, sports, personal income and travel.

His work has been quoted or mentioned in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Time, The New Yorker, HuffPost USA Today, Business Insider, Yahoo, AOL, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian and many other major publications. McIntyre has been a guest on CNBC, the BBC and television and radio stations across the country.

A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, McIntyre also was president of The Harvard Advocate. Founded in 1866, the Advocate is the oldest college publication in the United States.

TheStreet.com, Comps.com and Edgar Online are some of the public companies for which McIntyre served on the board of directors. He was a Vicinity Corporation board member when the company was sold to Microsoft in 2002. He served on the audit committees of some of these companies.

McIntyre has been the CEO of FutureSource, a provider of trading terminals and news to commodities and futures traders. He was president of Switchboard, the online phone directory company. He served as chairman and CEO of On2 Technologies, the video compression company that provided video compression software for Adobe’s Flash. Google bought On2 in 2009.