Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

Counties in Alabama with the fastest-rising temperatures in the last 100 years

Hitting 116 degrees F in normally temperate Portland, Oregon. 105 degrees in Reno in September, just as summer is meant to be waning. And in California’s Death Valley National Park, temperatures hit almost 130 degrees in the aptly named Furnace Creek, marking a world record for the hottest September day in history.

2021 and 2022 saw some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, as across the country extreme heat waves wreaked havoc on communities accustomed to more moderate weather. For many regions, the consequences were grave: in the 2021 Western heatwave, hundreds lost their lives, largely due to a lack of air conditioning, and wildfires ravaged the area.

Stacker

Map of the past year’s temperatures compared to the 100-year average

While not every county in the nation has experienced such extreme heat, climate change has dramatically changed the heat landscape in nearly every state. Coastal regions and the Southern U.S. are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures, and are also frequently targets of extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes.

Just as all states are not impacted equally by rising temperatures, regions within states have also seen widely different temperature changes over the last decades. Factors such as proximity to urban areas, bodies of water, and mountains can dramatically change the climate of a region. Stacker cited data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Center for Environmental Information to identify the counties in Alabama with the greatest departure from average temperatures during the period December 2021 to November 2022 compared to the 1901-2000 average. Average temperature over the past year served as a tiebreaker. Additional data on recent average high and low temperatures for each county is also included.

Springfieldohio // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Jackson County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #17 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 49.8 F (1.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 71.8 F (1.1 F above century average)

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#49. Walker County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #17 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50.9 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 75.2 F (1.5 F above century average)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Conecuh County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #16 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 55 F (1.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.7 F (1.3 F above century average)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Henry County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #14 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 55.8 F (1.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.5 F (1.5 F above century average)

Wmr36104 // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Geneva County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #13 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 55.5 F (1.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 79.4 F (1.7 F above century average)

Wayne James // Shutterstock

#45. Lauderdale County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #15 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 48.8 F (1.9 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 73.2 F (1.2 F above century average)

Pixabay

#44. Madison County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #17 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50.1 F (1.9 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 72.8 F (1.1 F above century average)

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#43. Winston County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #13 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 49.8 F (1.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 73.5 F (1.2 F above century average)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Cherokee County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #17 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 73.4 F (0.8 F above century average)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Chambers County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #16 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50.4 F (1.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 75.7 F (1.5 F above century average)

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#40. Fayette County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #14 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 51.3 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 75.7 F (1.8 F above century average)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Shelby County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #16 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50.9 F (1.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 76.2 F (1.9 F above century average)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Coosa County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #17 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 51.3 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 76.2 F (1.6 F above century average)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Elmore County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #12 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 53.1 F (1.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 77.4 F (1.6 F above century average)

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#36. Bullock County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #12 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 53.7 F (1.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 77.5 F (1.7 F above century average)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Crenshaw County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #15 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 53.4 F (1.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.4 F (1.9 F above century average)

Kreeder13 // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Pike County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #13 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 54.2 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.2 F (1.7 F above century average)

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#33. Wilcox County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #15 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 54.3 F (1.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.1 F (1.8 F above century average)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Covington County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #14 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 54.7 F (1.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 79.5 F (1.7 F above century average)

Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Dale County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #10 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 55.5 F (1.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.8 F (1.9 F above century average)

JNix // Shutterstock

#30. Clay County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #12 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 49.9 F (1.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 74.6 F (1.5 F above century average)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Talladega County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #13 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50.8 F (1.5 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 75.9 F (1.6 F above century average)

M Floyd // Flickr

#28. Jefferson County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #14 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 51.3 F (1.5 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 75.6 F (1.8 F above century average)

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#27. Chilton County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #10 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 51.9 F (1.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 76.8 F (2 F above century average)

DXR // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Dallas County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 53.9 F (1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 77.9 F (2.1 F above century average)

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Coffee County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #13 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 54.9 F (1.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 79.1 F (2 F above century average)

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#24. Escambia County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #13 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 56 F (2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 79.3 F (1.2 F above century average)

Public Domain

#23. Pickens County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #14 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 52.8 F (1.5 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 76.7 F (1.9 F above century average)

Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Lowndes County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #12 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 54 F (1.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.4 F (2.2 F above century average)

Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Clarke County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #8 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 54.9 F (2.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.3 F (1.4 F above century average)

Idawriter // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Washington County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #8 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 55 F (2.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 79.2 F (1.4 F above century average)

MPearsallArt // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Morgan County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50.9 F (2.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 73.2 F (0.9 F above century average)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Marion County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #9 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 74.7 F (1.9 F above century average)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#17. St. Clair County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 51.2 F (2.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 74.8 F (1.4 F above century average)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Autauga County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #10 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 53.4 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 77.9 F (2.2 F above century average)

Chris Pruitt // wikicommons

#15. Montgomery County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #12 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 54 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.5 F (2.2 F above century average)

Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Monroe County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 55.3 F (2.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.5 F (1.5 F above century average)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Cleburne County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50.2 F (2.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 73.4 F (1.3 F above century average)

Dailynetworks // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Colbert County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 49.8 F (2.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 73.9 F (1.5 F above century average)

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#11. Marshall County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 51.5 F (2.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 72.9 F (1.4 F above century average)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Randolph County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #10 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50.1 F (2.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 74.7 F (1.7 F above century average)

Prestinian // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Etowah County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #10 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 51.4 F (2.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 74 F (1.5 F above century average)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Calhoun County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 51.1 F (2.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 74.6 F (1.5 F above century average)

Myself – Nathon Morris // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Lamar County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #9 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 51.9 F (1.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 76 F (2 F above century average)

RuralSWAlabama (Billy Milstead) // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Choctaw County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #7 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 54.3 F (1.9 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 78.5 F (1.9 F above century average)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Franklin County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 61.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #7 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 50 F (2.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 73.8 F (1.8 F above century average)

Altairisfar // Wikicommons

#4. Mobile County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 68.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #7 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 57.4 F (1.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 79.7 F (2.6 F above century average)

Jodybwiki // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Baldwin County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 68.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #6 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 58 F (1.8 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 79.7 F (2.3 F above century average)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Cullman County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #7 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 51.9 F (3.9 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 73.2 F (0.7 F above century average)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Blount County

– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #10 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 52.3 F (3.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 73.6 F (0.9 F above century average)