Least Extreme (Hot and Cold) Weather Temperature States in the United States

Ten states in the United States have a difference of only 139 degrees or less between their record hottest temperature and record coldest weather temperature. That means these 11 states have the most moderate weather temperature extremes in the United States and are the most moderate states from a climate or temperature perspective. In general these ten states do not have extreme hot or cold record temperatures. There is a real commonality between these states which we will discuss at the end of the list and the commonality is not that all the states are in the south though some of them are. A few of the states on this list will probably surprise you but the commonality among these states explains all.

1) Hawaii - 88 degrees

By far Hawaii is the most moderate climate state in the United States as measured by temperature extremes. The hottest it has ever been in the Aloha State is just 100 degrees which occurred on April 27, 1931 in Pahala. Only one other state in the USA has never been over 100 degrees you can read about it here. The coldest it has ever been in Hawaii is 12 degrees which occurred on May 17, 1979 on top of Manua Kea which is the tallest mountain in the world including below sea level. Hawaii is the only state that has never had a temperature reading below zero. By subtracting 100 degrees from 12 degrees we end up with 88 degrees as the extreme weather temperature variance in Hawaii. By far the lowest in the country as the Pacific Ocean breezes prevent Hawaii from getting too hot or too cold.

2) Florida - 111

Florida ranks second with a variance of 111 degrees between its record hottest and record coldest temperatures. Yes Florida has had a temperature reading below zero as the record coldest temperature ever recorded in the Sunshine State is -2 degrees which occurred on February 13, 1899 in the state capital of Tallahassee. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida is 109 degrees which occurred on June 29, 1931 in Monticello.

3) Delaware - 127 degrees

The first two states were not that hard to figure but who would have thought the 3rd most moderate temperature state in the United States would be Delaware? Both the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in Delaware occurred in the city of Millsboro. The coldest temperature was -17 which occurred on January 17, 1893 and the hottest temperature ever recorded in Delaware was 110 degrees which occurred on July 21, 1930.

4) Georgia - 129 degrees

Georgia ranks 4th with a temperature variance of 129 degrees. The hottest temperature in Georgia was 112 degrees which occurred on July 24, 1952 in Louisville and the coldest temperature in Georgia was -17 which occurred on January 27, 1940 in North Floyd County.

4) Rhode Island - 129 degrees

Rhode Island ties Georgia for 4th and that might surprise some because Rhode Island is located well north in the United States in New England. The hottest temperature in Rhode Island was just 104 degrees which occurred on August 2, 1975 in Providence while the coldest temperature was -25 which occurred on February 5, 1996.

6) Louisiana - 130 degrees

Louisiana ranks 6th with a variance in temperature of 130 degrees. The hottest temperature in Louisiana was 114 degrees which occurred on August 10, 1936 in Plain Dealing and the coldest temperature was -16 degrees which occurred on February 13, 1889 in Minden.

6) South Carolina - 130 degrees

South Carolina ties Louisiana for 6th place at 130 degrees. The hottest temperature ever recorded in South Carolina was 111 degrees which occurred on June 28, 1954 in Camden while the coldest temperature ever recorded was -19 degrees which occurred on January 21, 1985 in Caesars Head.

8) Mississippi - 134 degrees

Mississippi ranks 8th with a variance of 134 degrees. The hottest temperature in Mississippi was 115 degrees which occurred on July 29, 1930 in Holly Springs and the coldest temperature was -19 degrees which occurred on January 30, 1966 in Corinth.

9) Connecticut - 138 degrees

Connecticut may be another surprise but the Nutmeg State ranks 9th with a variance in temperature extremes of 138 degrees. The hottest temperature in Connecticut was 106 degrees which occurred on July 15, 1995 in Danbury while the coldest temperature was -32 degrees which occurred on February 16, 1943 in Falls River.

10) Alabama - 139 degrees

Rounding out the list of the least extreme weather temperature states in the United States is Alabama with a variance in temperature of 139 degrees. The hottest temperature in Alabama was 112 degrees which occurred on September 5, 1925 in Centerville while the coldest temperature was -27 degrees which occurred on January 30, 1966 in New Market.

Did any of these states surprise you? Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut might have surprised a few people but the commonality almost all these states share is that they are close to the ocean and receive ocean breezes which moderates weather temperature extremes.

For more see Most Extreme (Hot and Cold) Weather Temperature States in the United States

Sources: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wcstates.htm

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