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When Is the Hottest Day of the Year?

The hottest day of the year, thermometer, hot weather
Written By: James J. Garriss Weather Contributor

When is the hottest time of the year? You might expect summer temperatures to peak in July; however, this is not typical for all regions of the United States. Take a look at your neck of the woods to learn what the hottest day of the year is!

When Is the Hottest Month of the Year?

July is the hottest month of the year for most of the country. Many regions in the United States—from the Rockies to the East Coast—follow this pattern.

However, this isn’t true for all regions. See the map below.

  • While northern regions usually reach their peak temperatures in July, oceans continue to warm until September. Warm, wet Gulf air continues to warm Texas, Louisiana, and Florida through August.
  • If you live in most of the West or in the Southern Plains, the hottest part of the summer will hit you in the next few weeks.
  • If you are on the West Coast, you will have to wait a couple of months.
A map of NOAA maximum temperature normals in various U.S. regions.
Summer heat peaks in different times of the year. 
Source NOAA.

Then, there’s the Desert Southwest, which usually peaks in June. The welcome monsoon rains arrive in July, and sheltering clouds cool the landscape.

A stormy sky above a Southwestern landscape that includes cacti.
Monsoon rains cool Southwestern summers through July and August. 
Source: Wikipedia

Finally, there’s California—the currents along the West Coast flow from Alaska. When the chill Pacific air hits the warm land, it creates a cooling fog. Summertime can be quite chilly. As a famous quote (falsely attributed to Mark Twain) goes, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”

It isn’t until September, when northern oceans reach their peak, that most of the West Coast finally warms up.

Graphic image of the cool Pacific current off the West Coast meeting the warm land and creating fog.
The cool Pacific current off the West Coast creates a chilling fog for most of the summer. Source: NOAA

Of course, every year is different! How’s the summer temperature in your area this year? Please comment below.

Heat

About The Author

James J. Garriss

James J. Garriss

Weather Contributor

With an academic background in international business, James is a writer, editor and researcher for Browning Media LLC, helping to present accurate climatological projections.

Read more from James J. Garriss

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Comments

<span>Debiilee</span> Tue, 08/05/2014 - 16:47
Have lived in Florida for 42 years. This year has been typical for heat, but not for rain. Only 2 inches in July and although almost 7 inches was officially reported for June - not at my house!! My gardens are really drooping. I can't wait for cooler weather.
<span>Kurt Lothman</span> Tue, 08/05/2014 - 09:35
When I was a kid in the 50's and 60's, I wore short sleeves from Valentines Day until Halloween in Houston. Summer had brief showers and the raindrops were warm. Warm summer rain ended in the 90's. Then cool days extended from Valentines Day. By the 00's, warm days started in April, then May. This year, June was the end of spring. Only July was hot. And cool temps begin in Sep, not Nov, like my childhood. And spring has many non-humid days. Houston weather is getting better! (Couldn't get much worse!)
<span>A Jackson</span> Tue, 08/05/2014 - 08:18
As a Southern California native living in Virginia for the past 20 years (as of August 23rd), I have had to get used to "yucky" humid weather and nights that don't cool off because there is no such thing as an "offshore flow.." But, the upside is that we have 4 real seasons here, even if recently Spring tends to be too short, as it often seems to go from Winter into Summer with hardly a pause. From the map it appears that our hottest day traditionally has been in mid-July, so the worst, I hope, is over. In July of this year, I ran the a/c non-stop for over two weeks -- the electric bill was huge! Can hardly wait until fall.
<span>Diane Cantara</span> Thu, 07/31/2014 - 12:52
Weather in Jonesboro, arkansas has been more spring-like than summer...we'll see what August brings
<span>Jose Arellano</span> Tue, 07/29/2014 - 20:11
I live in Central California and the peak of the hottest period is therefore in late July. So now it is the hottest period of the year. I don't really complain about the weather; I'm open to love anything or almost anything. Summer and fall are both tied for my favorite seasons, but I don't have a favorite weather type. Anyway, I still don't want summer to end. I still am happy that it's summer!
<span>Jennifer</span> Sun, 07/06/2025 - 07:34
Im in Wisconsin. We had a really nice spring. But the end of June it started getting hot and humid. When the heat index is 100 it's too hot up here. And it seems very rainy this summer so far. August isn't here yet. But usually July and August is our hottest months.