Fastest-Warming Cities in the US
75 major US metros, ranked by long-term warming — from the 1991–2020 climate normals. Every city links to its full climate profile.
The fastest-warming major city in the US is Phoenix, AZ, at 10°F long-term warming. Los Angeles, CA ranks second at 9°F. Below, all 75 metros are ranked — tap any city to open its month-by-month climate, rainfall, and temperature records.
Fastest-Warming US cities — top 30
How the fastest-warming cities compare
Across the 75 largest US metros with full climate records, long-term warming ranges from 10°F in Phoenix, AZ down to -1°F in Cincinnati, OH — the bottom of this leaderboard. The bars above are scaled to that spread, so the gap between the leader and the pack is visible at a glance.
These figures are the total warming implied by each city’s long-term temperature trend, not a single year’s reading. A larger value means recent decades run further above the mid-20th-century baseline. The ranking measures the largest U.S. metros only — it is not a claim about every town in the country.
Frequently asked
- What is the fastest-warming city in the US?
- Among the 75 major US metros in this ranking, Phoenix, AZ is the fastest-warming, with 10°F long-term warming based on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Los Angeles, CA is second at 9°F. Each city in the list links to its full climate profile.
- How is the fastest-warming city ranked?
- Cities are ranked by long-term warming (in degrees Fahrenheit), highest first. The figures come from the 1991–2020 climate normals and a long-term temperature trend back to the mid-20th century, computed from ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo. It covers 75 of the largest US cities, not every town in the country.
- How does Phoenix compare to the rest of the list?
- Phoenix, AZ tops the list at 10°F long-term warming, while Cincinnati, OH sits at the other end with -1°F. The gap between them shows how wide the spread is across major US cities. Click any city to see its month-by-month climate, rainfall, and temperature records.
- Which US cities are warming the fastest?
- Phoenix, AZ shows the largest long-term temperature rise in this ranking, about 10°F since the mid-20th century. The figure is the total warming implied by the long-term trend line through each city's annual mean temperature — a positive slope means recent decades run warmer than the mid-1900s baseline.
More US climate rankings
- Hottest cities in the US
- Coldest cities in the US
- Rainiest cities in the US
- Driest cities in the US
- Snowiest cities in the US
- Most Extreme-Heat cities in the US
Or browse every city’s full profile in the city climate hub — weather by month, rainfall, all-time records, and the warming trend for 75 major US metros.