This summer, parts of the United States are experiencing record-breaking heat. How do these temperatures compare to the hottest ever observed in all 50 states? The answer key above shows each state’s all-time highest temperature, with some states having tied records in multiple years. Highlights include Alaska reaching 100 degrees in 1915, and Hawaii being the only other state with a record of 100 degrees due to the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean. Recent record-breakers include Oregon, Washington, and Utah in 2021. The Western and Central U.S. have the hottest records, with 11 states recording temperatures of 120 degrees or higher, particularly in the Desert Southwest and Plains regions. California’s Death Valley holds the national record at 134 degrees, also the global record. The Midwest has multiple states with records over 115 degrees, while the Eastern U.S. records are relatively cooler due to higher humidity near the Gulf and Atlantic. July and August are the most common months for setting records, with a few exceptions like Alabama’s record high of 112 degrees on September 6, 1925.
