The average temperature in the contiguous United States reached 55.5 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius) in 2024, approximately 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the 20th-century average. These levels represented a record since measurements started in 1895. Monthly average temperatures in the U.S. were also indicative of this trend. Temperatures and emissions are on the rise The rise in temperatures since 1975 is similar to the increase in carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. Although CO₂ emissions in recent years were lower than when they peaked in 2007, they were still generally higher than levels recorded before 1990. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and is the main driver of climate change. Extreme weather Scientists worldwide have found links between the rise in temperatures and changing weather patterns. Extreme weather in the U.S. has resulted in natural disasters such as hurricanes and extreme heat waves becoming more likely. Economic damage caused by extreme temperatures in the U.S. has amounted to hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars over the past few decades.

The average temperature in December 2024 was 38.25 degrees Fahrenheit in the United States, the fourth-largest country in the world. The country has extremely diverse climates across its expansive landmass. Temperatures in the United States On the continental U.S., the southern regions face warm to extremely hot temperatures all year round, the Pacific Northwest tends to deal with rainy weather, the Mid-Atlantic sees all four seasons, and New England experiences the coldest winters in the country. The North American country has experienced an increase in the daily minimum temperatures since 1970. Consequently, the average annual temperature in the United States has seen a spike in recent years. Climate Change The entire world has seen changes in its average temperature as a result of climate change. Climate change occurs due to increased levels of greenhouse gases which act to trap heat in the atmosphere, preventing it from leaving the Earth. Greenhouse gases are emitted from various sectors but most prominently from burning fossil fuels. Climate change has significantly affected the average temperature across countries worldwide. In the United States, an increasing number of people have stated that they have personally experienced the effects of climate change. Not only are there environmental consequences due to climate change, but also economic ones. In 2022, for instance, extreme temperatures in the United States caused over 5.5 million U.S. dollars in economic damage. These economic ramifications occur for several reasons, which include higher temperatures, changes in regional precipitation, and rising sea levels.

Temperature in the United States increased to 10.25 celsius in 2023 from 9.74 celsius in 2022. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States Average Temperature.

The National Forest Climate Change Maps project was developed by the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) and the Office of Sustainability and Climate to meet the needs of national forest managers for information on projected climate changes at a scale relevant to decision making processes, including forest plans. The maps use state-of-the-art science and are available for every national forest in the contiguous United States with relevant data coverage. Currently, the map sets include variables related to precipitation, air temperature, snow (including snow residence time and April 1 snow water equivalent), and stream flow.Historical (1975-2005) and future (2071-2090) precipitation and temperature data for the contiguous United States are ensemble mean values across 20 global climate models from the CMIP5 experiment (https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00094.1), downscaled to a 4 km grid. For more information on the downscaling method and to access the data, please see Abatzoglou and Brown, 2012 (https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/joc.2312) and the Northwest Knowledge Network (https://climate.northwestknowledge.net/MACA/). We used the MACAv2- Metdata monthly dataset; monthly precipitation values (mm) were summed over the season of interest (annual, winter, or summer). Absolute and percent change were then calculated between the historical and future time periods.Raster data are also available for download from RMRS site (https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/NFS-regional-climate-change-maps/categories/us-raster-layers.html), along with pdf maps and detailed metadata (https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/NFS-regional-climate-change-maps/downloads/NationalForestClimateChangeMapsMetadata.pdf).

The National Forest Climate Change Maps project was developed by the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) and the Office of Sustainability and Climate to meet the needs of national forest managers for information on projected climate changes at a scale relevant to decision making processes, including forest plans. The maps use state-of-the-art science and are available for every national forest in the contiguous United States with relevant data coverage. Currently, the map sets include variables related to precipitation, air temperature, snow (including snow residence time and April 1 snow water equivalent), and stream flow.

Historical (1975-2005) and future (2071-2090) precipitation and temperature data for the contiguous United States are ensemble mean values across 20 global climate models from the CMIP5 experiment (https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00094.1), downscaled to a 4 km grid. For more information on the downscaling method and to access the data, please see Abatzoglou and Brown, 2012 (https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/joc.2312) and the Northwest Knowledge Network (https://climate.northwestknowledge.net/MACA/). We used the MACAv2- Metdata monthly dataset; average temperature values were calculated as the mean of monthly minimum and maximum air temperature values (degrees C), averaged over the season of interest (annual, winter, or summer). Absolute and percent change were then calculated between the historical and future time periods.

Historical (1975-2005) and future (2071-2090) precipitation and temperature data for the state of Alaska were developed by the Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning (SNAP) (https://snap.uaf.edu). These datasets have several important differences from the MACAv2-Metdata (https://climate.northwestknowledge.net/MACA/) products, used in the contiguous U.S. They were developed using different global circulation models and different downscaling methods, and were downscaled to a different scale (771 m instead of 4 km). While these cover the same time periods and use broadly similar approaches, caution should be used when directly comparing values between Alaska and the contiguous United States.

Raster data are also available for download from RMRS site (https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/NFS-regional-climate-change-maps/categories/us-raster-layers.html), along with pdf maps and detailed metadata (https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/NFS-regional-climate-change-maps/downloads/NationalForestClimateChangeMapsMetadata.pdf).

The monthly average temperature in the United States between 2020 and 2025 shows distinct seasonal variation, following similar patterns. For instance, in April 2025, the average temperature across the North American country stood at 12.02 degrees Celsius. Rising temperatures Globally, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024 were some of the warmest years ever recorded since 1880. Overall, there has been a dramatic increase in the annual temperature since 1895. Within the U.S. annual temperatures show a great deal of variation depending on region. For instance, Florida tends to record the highest maximum temperatures across the North American country, while Wyoming recorded the lowest minimum average temperature in recent years. Carbon dioxide emissions Carbon dioxide is a known driver of climate change, which impacts average temperatures. Global historical carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels have been on the rise since the industrial revolution. In recent years, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes reached over 37 billion metric tons. Among all countries globally, China was the largest emitter of carbon dioxide in 2023.

Q: What was the average temperature for the month? A: Colors show the average monthly temperature across the contiguous United States. White and very light areas had average temperatures near 50°F. Blue areas on the map were cooler than 50°F; the darker the blue, the cooler the average temperature. Orange to red areas were warmer than 50°F; the darker the shade, the warmer the monthly average temperature. Q: Where do these measurements come from? A: Daily temperature readings come from weather stations in the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN-D). Volunteer observers or automated instruments collect the highest and lowest temperature of the day at each station over the entire month, and submit them to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). After scientists check the quality of the data to omit any systematic errors, they calculate each station’s monthly average of daily mean temperatures, then plot it on a 5x5 km gridded map. To fill in the grid at locations without stations, a computer program interpolates (or estimates) values, accounting for the distribution of stations and various physical relationships, such as the way temperature changes with elevation. The resulting product is the NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Gridded Dataset (NClimGrid). Q: What do the colors mean? A: Shades of blue show areas that had monthly average temperatures below 50°F. The darker the shade of blue, the lower the average temperature. Areas shown in shades of orange and red had average temperatures above 50°F. The darker the shade of orange or red, the higher the average temperature. White or very light colors show areas where the average temperature was near 50°F. Q: Why do these data matter? A: The 5x5km NClimGrid data allow scientists to report on recent temperature conditions and track long-term trends at a variety of spatial scales. The gridded cells are used to create statewide, regional and national snapshots of climate conditions. Energy companies use this information to estimate demand for heating and air conditioning. Agricultural businesses also use these data to optimize timing of planting, harvesting, and putting livestock to pasture. Q: How did you produce these snapshots? A: Data Snapshots are derivatives of existing data products; to meet the needs of a broad audience, we present the source data in a simplified visual style. This set of snapshots is based on NClimGrid climate data produced by and available from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). To produce our images, we invoke a set of scripts that access the source data and represent them according to our selected color ramps on our base maps. Additional information The data used in these snapshots can be downloaded from different places and in different formats. We used these specific data sources: NClimGrid Average Temperature References NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Gridded Dataset (NClimGrid) NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Divisional Database (NClimDiv) Improved Historical Temperature and Precipitation Time Series for U.S. Climate Divisions) NCEI Monthly National Analysis) Climate at a Glance - Data Information) NCEI Climate Monitoring - All Products Source: https://www.climate.gov/maps-data/data-snapshots/data-source/temperature-us-monthly-averageThis upload includes two additional files:* Temperature - US Monthly Average _NOAA Climate.gov.pdf is a screenshot of the main Climate.gov site for these snapshots.* Cimate_gov_ Data Snapshots.pdf is a screenshot of the data download page for the full-resolution files.

This dataset provides values for TEMPERATURE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Temperature in American Samoa increased to 27.50 celsius in 2023 from 27.31 celsius in 2022. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for American Samoa Average Temperature.

The National Forest Climate Change Maps project was developed by the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) and the Office of Sustainability and Climate to meet the needs of national forest managers for information on projected climate changes at a scale relevant to decision making processes, including forest plans. The maps use state-of-the-art science and are available for every national forest in the contiguous United States with relevant data coverage. Currently, the map sets include variables related to precipitation, air temperature, snow (including snow residence time and April 1 snow water equivalent), and stream flow.Historical (1975-2005) and future (2071-2090) precipitation and temperature data for the state of Alaska were developed by the Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning (SNAP) (https://snap.uaf.edu). Average temperature values were calculated as the mean of monthly minimum and maximum air temperature values (degrees C), averaged over the season of interest (annual, winter, or summer). These datasets have several important differences from the MACAv2-Metdata (https://climate.northwestknowledge.net/MACA/) products, used in the contiguous U.S. They were developed using different global circulation models and different downscaling methods, and were downscaled to a different scale (771 m instead of 4 km). While these cover the same time periods and use broadly similar approaches, caution should be used when directly comparing values between Alaska and the contiguous United States.Raster data are also available for download from RMRS site (https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/NFS-regional-climate-change-maps/categories/us-raster-layers.html), along with pdf maps and detailed metadata (https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/NFS-regional-climate-change-maps/downloads/NationalForestClimateChangeMapsMetadata.pdf).

This map shows the coldest days of the year, on average, throughout the United States based on the latest (1991-2020) U.S. Climate Normals from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. The Normals are 30-year averages of climate conditions from weather station data across the country, including the average low temperature for each day. From these values, scientists can identify which day of the year, on average, has the lowest minimum temperature, a.k.a. the “coldest day." If the lowest minimum temperature occurs on several days in a row, the map shows the central day of the range. The lightest colors on the map show places where the coldest day of the year occurs early in winter, starting at the beginning of December. The darker purples show places where the coldest day occurs later in the season, all the way through the end of March. The dots on the map show the station-based observations. The underlying map shows estimated ("interpolated") values for areas between stations. While the map shows the coldest days of the year on average, this year’s actual conditions may vary widely based on weather and climate patterns. For a prediction of your actual local daily temperature, and to see how it matches up with the Climate Normals, check out your local forecast office on Weather.gov.

These rasters provide the local mean annual extreme low temperature from 1991 to 2020 in an 800m x 800m grid covering the USA (including Puerto Rico) based on interpolation of data from more than a thousand weather stations. Each location's Plant Hardiness Zone is calculated based on classifying that temperature into 5 degree bands.The classified rasters are then used to create print and interactive maps.Temperature station data for the 2023 edition of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM) came from many different sources. In the eastern and central United States, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii, data came primarily from weather stations of the National Weather Service and several state networks. In the western United States and Alaska, data from stations maintained by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Reclamation, and DOI Bureau of Land Management also helped to better define hardiness zones in mountainous areas. Environment Canada provided data from Canadian stations, and data from Mexican stations came from the Mexico National Weather Service and the Global Historical Climate Network. The USDA PHZM was produced with PRISM, a highly sophisticated climate mapping technology developed at Oregon State University. The map was produced from a digital computer grid, with each cell measuring about a half mile on a side. PRISM estimated the mean annual extreme minimum temperature for each grid cell (or pixel on the map) by examining data from nearby stations; determining how the temperature changed with elevation; and accounting for possible coastal effects, temperature inversions, and the type of topography (ridge top, hill slope, or valley bottom). Information on PRISM can be obtained from the PRISM Climate Group website https://prism.oregonstate.edu. Once a draft of the map was completed, it was reviewed by a team of climatologists, agricultural meteorologists, and horticultural experts. If the zone for an area appeared anomalous to these expert reviewers, experts doublechecked the draft maps for errors or biases. A detailed explanation of the mapmaking process and a discussion of the horticultural applications of the 2012 PHZM (similar to 2023) are available from the articles listed below. Daly, C., M.P. Widrlechner, M.D. Halbleib, J.I. Smith, and W.P. Gibson. 2012. Development of a new USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the United States. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 51: 242-264.Widrlechner, M.P., C. Daly, M. Keller, and K. Kaplan. 2012. Horticultural Applications of a Newly Revised USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. HortTechnology, 22: 6-19.

Measurements of surface air and ocean temperature are compiled from around the world each month by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information and are analyzed and compared to the 1971-2000 average temperature for each location. The resulting temperature anomaly (or difference from the average) is shown in this feature service, which includes an archive going back to 1880. The mean of the 12 months each year is displayed here. Each annual update is available around the 15th of the following January (e.g., 2020 is available Jan 15th, 2021). The NOAAGlobalTemp dataset is the official U.S. long-term record of global temperature data and is often used to show trends in temperature change around the world. It combines thousands of land-based station measurements from the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) along with surface ocean temperature from the Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) analysis. These two datasets are merged into a 5-degree resolution product. A report summary report by NOAA NCEI is available here. GHCN monthly mean station averages for temperature and precipitation for the 1981-2010 period are also available in Living Atlas here.What can you do with this layer? Visualization: This layer can be used to plot areas where temperature was higher or lower than the historical average for each year since 1880. Be sure to configure the time settings in your web map to view the timeseries correctly. Analysis: This layer can be used as an input to a variety of geoprocessing tools, such as Space Time Cubes and other trend analyses. For a more detailed temporal analysis, a monthly mean is available here.

Date of freeze for historical (1985-2005) and future (2071-2090, RCP 8.5) time periods, and absolute change between them, based on analysis of MACAv2METDATA. Average historical temperature change, between 1948-1968 and 1996-2016 averages, in Celsius. Calculated using averages of minimum and maximum monthly values during these time periods. Values are based on TopoWx data. Download this data or get more information

The mean annual temperature in North America stood at -4.5 degrees Celsius in 1995. It is expected that, 30 years later in 2025, the average temperature will increase by 1.6 degrees Celsius due to the effects of global warming, under a scenario where global temperatures increase by 1.5 degree Celsius.

United States Heat Index data was reported at 1.290 Day in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.570 Day for 2019. United States Heat Index data is updated yearly, averaging 0.430 Day from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2020, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.310 Day in 2011 and a record low of 0.050 Day in 1976. United States Heat Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Environmental: Climate Risk. Total count of days per year where the daily mean Heat Index rose above 35°C. A Heat Index is a measure of how hot it feels once humidity is factored in with air temperature.;World Bank, Climate Change Knowledge Portal. https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org;;

Average historical temperature change, between 1948-1968 and 1996-2016 averages, in Celsius. Calculated using averages of minimum and maximum monthly values during these time periods. Values are based on TopoWx data. Download this data or get more informationThis record was taken from the USDA Enterprise Data Inventory that feeds into the https://data.gov catalog. Data for this record includes the following resources: ISO-19139 metadata ArcGIS Hub Dataset ArcGIS GeoService For complete information, please visit https://data.gov.

This map layer depicts the climate zone designations used by the U.S. Department of Energy Building America Program by county boundaries (generalized version). It is intended as an aid in helping builders to identify the appropriate climate designation for the counties in which they are building. The guide can be used in conjunction with guidance in the Building America Solution Center and the Best Practices builders’ guides produced by the DOE Building America Program to help builders determine which climate-specific guidance they should use. This data for this layer is taken from Building America Best Practices Series, Volume 7.3 - Guide to Determining Climate Regions by County. The eight U.S. Building America climate regions described here are based on the climate designations used by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The IECC climate zone map was developed by DOE researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with input from Building America team members, in particular Joseph Lstiburek of Building Science Corporation.a,b The IECC map was developed to provide a simplified, consistent approach to defining climate for implementation of various codes; it was based on widely accepted classifications of world climates that have been applied in a variety of different disciplines. The PNNL-developed map was adopted by the IECC and was first included in the IECC in the 2004 Supplement to the IECC. It first appeared in ASHRAE 90.1 in the 2004 edition. The IECC map divided the United States into eight temperatureoriented climate zones. These zones are further divided into three moisture regimes designated A, B, and C. Thus the IECC map allows for up to 24 potential climate designations. In 2003, with direction from the Building America teams, researchers at DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory simplified the IECC map for purposes of the Building America Program, into eight climate zones. For reporting purposes, these are further combined into five climate categories: Hot-humid,hot-dry/mixed drymixed-humidmarinecold/very coldsubarctic.The Building America and IECC climate maps are shown in Figures 1 and 2. The climate regions are described below. Climate zone boundaries follow county boundary lines. A listing of counties comprising each climate zone is provided below, beginning on page 5. The climate region definitions are based on heating degree days, average temperatures, and precipitation as follows:Hot-HumidA hot-humid climate is defined as a region that receives more than 20 inches (50 cm) of annual precipitation and where one or both of the following occur:• A 67°F (19.5°C) or higher wet bulb temperature for 3,000 or more hours during the warmest six consecutive months of the year; or• A 73°F (23°C) or higher wet bulb temperature for 1,500 or more hours during the warmest six consecutive months of the year.The Building America hot-humid climate zone includes the portions of IECC zones 1, 2, and 3 that are in the moist category (A) below the “warm-humid” line shown on the IECC map. Mixed-HumidA mixed-humid climate is defined as a region that receives more than 20 inches (50 cm) of annual precipitation, has approximately 5,400 heating degree days (65°F basis) or fewer, and where the average monthly outdoor temperature drops below 45°F (7°C) during the winter months.The Building America mixed-humid climate zone includes the portions of IECC zones 4 and 3 in category A above the “warmhumid” line. Hot-DryA hot-dry climate is defined as a region that receives less than 20 inches (50 cm) of annual precipitation and where the monthly average outdoor temperature remains above 45°F (7°C) throughout the year.The Building America hot-dry climate zone corresponds to the portions of IECC zones 2 and 3 in the dry category.Mixed-Dry A mixed-dry climate is defined as a region that receives less than 20 inches (50 cm) of annual precipitation, has approximately 5,400 heating degree days (65°F basis) or less, and where the average monthly outdoor temperature drops below 45°F (7°C) during the winter months.The Building America mixed-dry climate zone corresponds to IECC climate zone 4 B (dry).Cold A cold climate is defined as a region with between 5,400 and 9,000 heating degree days (65°F basis).The Building America cold climate corresponds to the IECC climate zones 5 and 6.Very-Cold A very cold climate is defined as a region with between 9,000 and 12,600 heating degree days (65°F basis).The Building America very cold climate corresponds to IECC climate zone 7.SubarcticA subarctic climate is defined as a region with 12,600 heating degree days (65° basis) or more. The only subarctic regions in the United States are in found Alaska, which is not shown in Figure 1.The Building America subarctic climate zone corresponds to IECC climate zone 8.Marine A marine climate is defined as a region that meets all of the following criteria: • A coldest month mean temperature between 27°F (-3°C) and 65°F (18°C)• A warmest month mean of less than 72°F (22°C)• At least 4 months with mean temperatures higher than 50°F (10°C)• A dry season in summer. The month with the heaviest precipitation in the cold season has at least three times as much precipitation as the month with the least precipitation in the rest of the year. The cold season is October through March in the Northern Hemisphere and April through September in the Southern Hemisphere.The Building America marine climate corresponds to those portions of IECC climate zones 3 and 4 located in the “C” moisture category. Building America and IECC Climate ZonesThe table below shows the relationship between the Building America and IECC climate zones.

Building America
IECC


Subarctic
Zone 8


Very Cold
Zone 7


Cold
Zone 5 and 6


Mixed-Humid
4A and 3A counties above warm-humid line


Mixed-Dry
Zone 4B


Hot-Humid
2A and 3A counties below warm-humid line


Hot-Dry
Zone 3B


Marine
All counties with a “C” moisture regime

Abstract: The Mean Annual Temperature map was calculated by creating a contour map using compiled 10 meter firn temperature data from NSIDC and other mean annual temperature data from both cores and stations.

The 10 meter data contains temperature measurements dating back to 1957 and the International Geophysical Year, including measurements from several major recent surveys. Data cover the entire continental ice sheet and several ice shelves, but coverage density is generally low.

Data are stored in Microsoft Excel and Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), and are available sporadically from 1957 to 2003 via FTP.

In the last 40 years, trends in heat wave frequency, intensity, and duration have increased steadily around the world. These intense heat waves were characterized persistent atmospheric blocking episode, with a continuous presence of a warm air mass and lack of rain for several consecutive days, that contributed to pronounced positive temperature anomalies, reinforced by extremely low soil moisture, and warm and drought conditions. The year 2023 was the warmest year on record, and the global average temperature was +1.45°C above pre-industrial (1850–1900) values worldwide. In South America 2023 was the warmest since 1900, with 0.81°C above the 1991–2020 reference period. Central South America experienced a sequence of heatwaves series being the most intense during the autumn and spring of 2023. From August to December 2023, the meteorological services of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia reported record-high maximum temperatures in this period in several stations east of the Andes and identified 7 heat waves episodes that affected all these countries. The large-scale circulation patterns show that heatwaves were characterized by an anomalously high-pressure system that facilitated the formation of a heat dome through dry, hot air columns over a warm and dry soil. Several locations experienced temperature of about 10°C above normal, and some locations reported maximum temperatures above 40°C for several days in a row. These heat waves aggravated the drought over Amazonia during the second half of 2023, during an El Niño year. Compound drought-heat favored hydrological drought, while the increased dryness amplified the risk of fires.