5 Worst Summer Weather Cities
What cities have the worst summer weather? Check out the top five here.
The idea of perfect weather is as crazy as the idea of a perfect world or a perfect anything. One person’s ideal weather is another’s worst day. The funny thing about weather is that some people enjoy what most of us consider the worst weather—snowstorms, thunderstorms, hurricanes—we’ve even had people ask us where to move to for the best place to see tornadoes, believe it or not. To help us answer the question of perfect weather, we polled our Facebook fans.
The consensus seemed to be for clear blue skies, low humidity, temperatures around 75°F, and a light wind. Yet others said snow and lots of it. So instead of picking perfect weather, we’re picking far-from-perfect or “worst” weather.
How’d We Pick?
To compile this list, we looked at: temperatures, sky conditions, precipitation, humidity, and wind.
The following list took a number of meteorological factors into consideration, as well as the population size of the cities. We set a limit of a population of at least 50,000 people. Interestingly, from our original “10 Worst” list of 2002, two cities, Syracuse and New Orleans, made it onto our Worst Winter Weather lists. Here are our listings for 5 cities with the worst summer weather in the United States.
1. MIAMI, FLORIDA
Let’s make one thing clear: During the winter months, Miami ranks high in terms of great weather, with abundant sunshine and warm, pleasant temperatures. There’s probably no better place to spend a winter vacation than “The Magic City.” But between May and October, the overall climate is anything but pleasant, and the thing that becomes abundant is precipitation. Miami’s climate is subtropical marine, so think hot, humid, and showery. It ranks second (behind Key West) as the nation’s hottest average/mean temperature, 75.6°F annually. Taking into account temperature and humidity, it ranks sixth among the 10 most uncomfortable cities. Among the top ten cities most prone to the effects of a tropical storm or hurricane, Miami ranks ninth. Finally, it ranks tenth on the list of the ten wettest cities, averaging 59.55 inches; but nearly 44 of those inches typically fall between May and October, chiefly in thunderstorms. In short: keep your umbrella close by.
2. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
New Orleans has a subtropical temperate climate and generally sees little variation on any given day. In other words, hot days tend to begin very warm and sultry and end that way. Temperatures rarely reach much higher than 90°F, but because of high humidity, it can get exceedingly uncomfortable. As we noted in 2002 when New Orleans made our Top Ten Worst list: Spend a summer here and you will very quickly learn why it’s not easy to live in the Big Easy without air conditioning! Tropical storms are a definite concern to residents and visitors to New Orleans. While not at the top of the list of danger zones for hurricanes, New Orleans is high on that list, and even tropical depressions can cause dangerous flooding. Regular storms can also produce extremely heavy rainfalls, so street flooding is a continual issue in the New Orleans area. Most of the city is located below sea level, protected from the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain by an extensive levee system and by canals and pumps. But as was seen with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, even these protections are not always enough; the levees were breached, leaving parts of the city underwater for many days.
3. DALLAS, TEXAS
This city’s climate is often identified as humid subtropical, even though it is located in a region that tends to receive warm, dry winds during the summer from the north and west, with temperatures well over 100°F and heat indices soaring as high as 117°F. Dallas ranks fourth among the most uncomfortable U.S. cities. When only temperature itself is accounted for, the north central Texas region, where Dallas is located, is one of the hottest in the United States during the summer months, usually trailing only the Mojave Desert of Arizona, southern Nevada, and southeastern California. In Dallas, severe thunderstorms can spawn tornadoes (number 3 among major metropolitan areas for tornadic activity) as well as large hail (number 5 among cities most prone).
4. MOBILE, ALABAMA
During July and August, temperatures will hit 90°F on two out of three days. Such temperatures, combined with average afternoon relative humidity levels between 60 to 70 percent, make for a very oppressive, uncomfortable environment. Mobile also recently topped a list of the soggiest cities in the contiguous 48 states, with more than 5 feet of rain annually (according to a 2007 study by the San Francisco-based WeatherBill, Inc.), with the heaviest rainfalls occurring during mid- and late summer. It should thus come as no surprise that Mobile ranks high among the top thunderstorm cities; there may be a thunderstorm every other day during July and August. Thankfully, those summer storms are usually not too violent and seldom produce hail.
5. CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
Located in south Texas, Corpus Christi Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. Corpus Christi ranks ninth on the list of the nation’s ten hottest cities, averaging 72.1°F. But in contrast to other places along the Gulf Coast, Corpus Christi receives only about 30 inches of rain each year–most of it during the spring and early fall. In fact, summers usually feature lots of sunshine and big puffy clouds passing over. And the threat of severe tropical storms only averages about one storm every ten years. So why does Corpus Christi make our list? Unfortunately, the prevailing summer winds often come from the southeast, right off the Gulf of Mexico. Combined with late afternoon temperatures that usually peak around 94°F, and you have a climate where you can break into a sweat just going outside to check your mailbox; it is, in fact, one of the most uncomfortable summer cities.
Check out which cities made our worst winter cities.
Do you have a worse weather city that should be added to list? Tell us about
Caleb Weatherbee
Caleb Weatherbee is the official forecaster for the Farmers' Almanac. His name is actually a pseudonym that has been passed down through generations of Almanac prognosticators and has been used to conceal the true identity of the men and women behind our predictions.
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I live in Dallas and let me tell you it’s worse than it sounds. Im writing this at nearly 8pm on July 16 and it is currently 101 outside. Summer is downright #$%@ here. Hell it hit 82 degrees on CHRISTMAS DAY HERE. From late may till late october, temps do not go below 70 degrees, you feel like you’re in an oven at 3 am or 3pm, doesn’t matter, every pool you try to get into to swim in feels more like a hot tub, the air is so thick with humidity some days it feels like you’re ingesting boiling water, and there’s very little to do except sit inside with ac at full blast and complain about how hot it is. Summer is disgusting here in Dallas.
Hi Tyler,
Being from the Northeast, we always enjoy summer but the winter can be trying. Sounds like you might enjoy winter a little more. Stay cool if you can and maybe take a trip north!
People complain about “cold” northern cities, but I’d rather deal with winter in any northern city any day of the week than agonizingly hot southern locations. Not only are northern cities experiencing milder winters with every passing year, but really, winter is only miserable for those who do not know how to dress for it. In contrast, there is no escaping heat other than laying in water all day (which gets quite boring after a short time) or sitting inside.
I really believe for some, there is no escaping the cold. They complain about the “cold” but are usually dealing with SAD, and unfortunately don’t realize it. Seasonal affected disorder/severe depression in winter is common in people especially those with olive or dark skin and dark eyes since they’re unable to get sufficient exposure to sun on their skin and with their eyes. If you have SAD in the winter, you know the only way to escape it is to get somewhere where you can lay out in the sun for a couple hours every day. When it’s cold, it’s a little hard to do that. I met someone with blond hair, light skin and light blue eyes that had SAD in the sunny summer months, and that person preferred colder climates. Makes sense … everyone’s different.
I don’t live in any of these cites! I normally only live in colder places but I might want to visit but I’m not sure
I live in Miami it sucks in the summer
Clicked on “our worst winter cities” got Oops! That page can’t be found.
Hi Wayne, I checked all the links and they’re working, can you try again?
Try Arizona.
In Florence Az alone we hit 118F.
Florence due to being in the middle of no mans land is always colder then phoenix in the winter and it always hotter in the summer.
Today is going to be another hot one.
Heaven is Prescott Az we love it here! 4 seasons- never too hot or too cold. Beautiful pine trees and cool evenings, abundant water. Please don’t all try and move here, we like our wide open spaces and friendly townspeople!!
We’ve said that in Colorado for decades – i wish you luck ?
If you don’t want people moving there, don’t advertise just how wonderful it is.
I can’t believe how many people continue to tell people to move to Texas or Florida. I live in neither one. (I agree with Jim if you really don’t want people moving there, do not tell them about how wonderful it is:)
Adolf Hitler would be governor in either state now.
Considered Prescott. Nothing to do there… very boring area
Laredo and Mcallen in Texas are the most uncomfortable hot climates in the US as it is the nastiest MIX of heat and humidity in our country.
The problem is they are so far south and the coast is just close enough to cause humidity but locked to the east far enough to not provide relief. The proximity to the coast increases humidity and the proximity to the desert to the west increases the heat. The two air masses meet and you have some of the hottest REAL FEEL temps for the longest time of year is Laredo, if going by when the sun is out and not counting when the sun goes down at night.
Florida doesn’t even come close to the misery of Laredo and Mcallen, I was in Laredo in March once and it was 98 with a Reel Feel of 118, and that’s March.
Was in Laredo outer-burbs in August and it was 112 with a reel feel of 130… That was the highest REAL FEEL temperature I have ever seen anywhere in the US. Even when Death Valley gets into the 120’s, the real feel is more like 110 due to no humidity.
I think #1 should be Orlando, Florida. Miami may have the highest avg. annual temperature, but that is only because Orlando is colder in winter. Orlando is actually hotter in summer and being inland, it does not get the ocean breezes. In Miami you can at least go to the beach and catch the seabreeze!
I always thought the same , miserable there!
I love heat after living in pac.NW, all the rain there 8 months of year but Bullhead City is unbearable with so much 120-118 Temps all summer. Lake Havasu City, beautiful place to live in winters.
Your name is Carol too?
Oh my , I’ve lived in Macon, Ga most of my life ( few years in Corpus Christi & Dallas), and summers here are hot and muggy day and night. Glad to know that we aren’t the only ones just trying to survive the heat and humidity. Fall , winter and spring are great , Summers are spent inside or in the numerous lakes , rivers and pools. Plentiful air conditioning , lots of big shady trees, homes with big porches, lots of fresh fruits and water sports are for basic survival. Summer thunderstorms are nice as long as we keep the AC!
And fire ants! I’ll pass.
Miami has a good weather, i was there four times
Huntington Beach Ca!! With all the talk of bad summers I had to make a positive comment:
You can wear shorts 365 days a year, average temp 70 year around! I would rather live in a tent here, than in a giant home in the hot states! Really it’s like heaven on earth in coastal Orange County, CA. NO crime- beauty everywhere ( great city planning). Lots to do, best schools and colleges.
Bad news: if you want to buy a home: you need two incomes of over 100k to afford a small townhouse! But you forget the small home when you realize you live in paradise…..
Lol hardly. ‘Tent City’ is coming your way soon.
Tent cities as you know are heading to that rat hole of bigotry and fascism. We’re giving it back to Mexico. NpIm sure the drug gangs will win against all you white supremecist neo Nazis.
God blessed Southern California, didn’t he?
Dishonorable mention to Seattle because while it may be remarkably pleasant here most of the time between May and October (went nearly a month without a drop of rain, contrary to the city’s image), nobody here has ever heard of air conditioning, so on those occasions when it does get above 90 degrees, being indoors (where everything’s designed to keep heat in because of the constant 40 degree days and 30 degree nights in the winter) is like being in the punishment box from that Deep Space Nine episode with the luddite castaway planet.
im very surprised St. Louis, MO is not on this list. In mid summer it is a constant 85-95 degrees hitting 100+ a handful or more times with high humidity and little to no breeze EVER. Even going to the river or lake for a swim doesn’t give much relief. Not once you get out of the water anyways… Last year we had a 10-14 days stretch of 100+ degree weather. Talk about BRUTAL. It made a record here.
garrison, I am a Houstonian and while the weather sucks here (hot and humid many months out of the year) it is NOTHING compared to Indonesia, where I just visited 5 weeks this July/August visiting my girlfriend. It was TWICE as stuffy and humid outside there; the heat bakes you like a sauna down there, and the sun rises at 6am and sets at 6pm @ the 90 degree position overhead in the center of the sky every day of the year because the country lies along the equator. There are no seasons except ‘rainy’ and ‘dry.’
Obviously as a dumb Texan you had no clue, In Central Java,, there are cool pine forests in the mountains and you can even pick strawberries. Stickk to that Texas rathole you live in now.
Looks like the whole gulf coast ought to be on this list. I live in Lake Charles, LA which is about halfway between Houston and Baton Rouge and all summer long it’s nothing but miserable heat and humidity with hardly a breeze to be felt. Just hot, damp and still air.
And flare stacks from all the chemical plants making it REALLY hell.
I grew up in New Orleans (#2) and now live in Dallas (#3). I just can’t escape the heat or uncomfortable climates.
It is June 29, 2014, 10:40am. I am sitting by my pool in Sugar Land, Texas (metro Houston). It is very pleasant, 80 degrees and 50% humidity. Houston IS hot in the summer, but it absolutely does fall well into the 70s, 90% of all summer nights. Frankly, the worst around here is often early morning when it is extremely humid. Once the sun comes out much of the humidity evaporates, making it “tolerable” most days and “decent” (sometimes pleasant) outside at night. Personally, I like it fairly cool, and by 8-9 pm most nights are fairly pleasant. Sugar Land is also helped by all out war on the Mosquitos. Every night trucks pump “who knows what” down the road grates and into the air. Always good to head inside for 15 minutes when you hear them coming.
However, the lifestyle in Houston trumps everything else, including the lack of physical beauty, although foliage wise Houston is quite green and attractive, blended in with some magnificent architecture and good infrastructure. One can find any lifestyle, from very urban to almost country suburban. People can complain about Houston’s traffic. However, we have the world’s most lane miles of highway than any city in the world, LA included. Traffic at rush hour can be horrible, but there are a lot of different options. Houstonians measure driving in time, not distance, so prefer to drive 30 miles in 40 mins than 15 miles in an hour.
Over the course of a year, in rate the overall weather good.
Detroit should be on year round list. It is LOUSY. PERIOD.
Many of these cities have sea breezes that grant relief from the heat. The worst summers go to areas in the southwest like Phoenix, and Las Vegas that see 112 degree heat every day in the summer. I don’t care if its dry heat- thats still hot. And to the poster Garrison, frankly your wrong – Houston does have a sea breeze that gets into even the Woodlands. The Greater Houston Area had indigenous peoples known as the Karawankas, look it up. Galveston isn’t all that bad as people say it is, and the petrochemical plants are away from the city center, and zoned to a far off location. Houston does NOT have 92 degree lows in the summer- in the 70s is more like it. And Galveston, and other coastal communities in the Houston area can be reached in around 30 minutes.
Miami shouldn’t be on the list are you crazy
Precipitation doesn’t happen everyday in the summer. It does happen happen a lot though but so what it is quick. Miami actually has one of the best weather in the us. It has sunlit and warm weather.miami has great weather in the summer except for people who don’t like the heat but I love the heat
Miami has great sunny weather even n the summer. Precipitation is quick and than the sun comes out again
Mobile is steamy year round. Even when it is 60 degrees outside, it’s uncomfortable. We seldom have low humidity. I would love to move back to Middle Tennessee, where they have humidity sometimes, but not year round. I’ve been here almost 10 years, and I hate it more every day.
I love it. I have lived all over the South as a travelling nurse. Originally from Toronto, Canada , and Alberta, Canada I have a fair idea of what summer is like around the continent. I have lived in Boston, Indianapolis, Memphis, New Orleans, Corpus Christi, The Rio Grande Valley and now in Austin, Texas. The northern climates may have temperate summers but the certainly can have some long bitter winters. Give me the South any day. New Orleans despite high humidity has warm rain most afternoons, The Rio Grande valley always seemed to be sunny, warm and windy! Great pool weather! I am now currently in Austin area and find the long hot summers…..HOT!!…little rain or breezes to move it around it to move the air.. Thank goodness for cooler nights and AC! Each area has its advantages. At least the South rarely sees snow and never bitter cold. It is all a matter of perspective!
LOl are you guys CRAZY! Have you not been to Houston in the summer. 100 f 100 humidity and the temp drops only 5% or so at night (that’s 92 for a low sometimes). Also zero breeze, not uncommon for the wind to be 0 with all those factors. Also, the allergy capital of the world. Allergist literally come to Houston to do the bulk of their research. Add the petrochemical pollution that makes the air thick so when you open your door it takes your breath away. I have traveled everywhere (100 cities a year) and been in the Jungles of Sumatra in Indonesia and Africa and Houston is worse. Houston is the only major city in the US that had no indigenous people. That’s right! That means the Indians wouldn’t live their! You can dig all you want, no pottery no arrow heads. High school Football teams practice at 6am because of the deaths every year of young athletes. Houston is a great city with the countries best economy. Great food and great people. By far the best city to fly from ( no more that 3.50 min from an US City) and the cost living is low and the pay is high. Lots of wealthy people and surprising small gettos. Good schools and well run by the city. But….. its extraordinarily uncomfortable to be outside from June to October. Much much worse than Miami (with a consistent breeze) Dallas with a dryer climate. New Orleans with a breeze and less auto traffic, Mobile and Corpus are again subject to ocean breezes. Houston is 50 minutes in no traffic from the coast . A coast with oddly very little wind in the summer (never seen anything like it, but don’t get me started on Galveston)!
Have any of the people who put this list together ever been to Phoenix in the summer? I would bet they have not. I have lived in many southern cities (east and west) and woud have to say that a summer in Phoenix was the most miserable experience. Oh wait, I almost forgot, “But it’s a dry heat”.
What about Laredo, Texas?? It has to be one of the hottest summer cities in the US.
This discussion makes me feel so much better about needing my sweatshirt today, I have gotten on a plane in Seattle in 66deg and drizzling and gotten off in Georgia 96deg and drizzling. I came back……
It’s a little odd to see a discussion involving people competing as to who lives in the worst weather cities. The South is a bit muggy in the summer, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. North Carolina is perfect! Hot, muggy, a few hurricanes, occasional tornadoes. What’s not to love? I’ll take this beautiful state and all its weather imperfections.
And it’s rigged elections and white trash
St. Louis, MO, should be on this list. 100 degree temperature and 1,000% humidity and horrendous thunderstorms
‘@Joseafus Brown & Kayleigh, are you guys nuts?? =) Come to the midwest, the south, or lower east coast and experience the humidity before you complain about Phoenix. I’ve lived in both Phoenix and St. Louis and I can tell you that 100 and humid is SO much worse than 120 and dry. I’d take Phoenix in the summer over St. Louis in the summer any day!
Im a bit mad about San Antonio not being on the list. I’ve lived there all my life, and every year it’s extreme humidity & triple digit heat from late May to late August. Actually, all of South Texas is like that. But at least Corpus Christi gets some breezes…it’s like a stagnant pool of air ’round here in summertime.
Columbia, South Carolina… HOT, HUMID, HOT!!!!
I moved from Fairbanks, Alaska to Nashville, Tennessee. I’d love to find a happy medium somewhere! I have no desire to “survive” Alaskan winters any longer, but this sticky,southern heat is miserable. I’ve got my eye on Kansas. : )
Funny how all of the cities are in the Deep South! I live in Florida, and I treat a Florida summer like a northerner treats winter: I only go out if I absolutely have to! It was 90 by 10AM today. For those northerners who wish they had a nice long, hot summer, remember this: you can put more clothes on when it gets cold, we can only take so many off when it gets hot!
new orleans new orleans new orleans
Hilarious discussion. I’ve never heard of people being concerned that the summer is “too hot and long” ….. Check out the weather and average temps for Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Extremely brief, very very mild summers, and a long 8+ month winter of frigid cold, and excess snow. I’d trade “too hot” for this any day. No one here has a pool ….. because it would never be hot enough to use it, not a single day of the year.
8 months of winter? That’s simply not true, it’s a ridiculous claim in fact. I doubt if Yellowknife gets 8 months of winter. Most years real winter here does not set in until December and is done for the most part most years by mid March. And the periods of truly brutal cold (we’re having one as i type this) are limited to a couple of weeks a year, most years. Other than that the winters are manageable and sunny. Sure, you can get snow anytime, it’s a mountain/high plains climate, where these are brief events outside winter. Bin in southern Alberta 28 years and for the most part it’s a lovely climate, summers are simply gorgeous. One of the problems today in winter climates is people dress for their indoor climate-controlled jobs. Yeah, you’re gonna be miserable all winter if you don’t know how to dress, no debate there. If you do, no big deal.
WHAT ABOUT HOUSTON??? It’s the most miserable weather I’ve ever seen… and I’ve been to Iraq!
NASHVILLE!!!! It has been in the upper 90s almost continuously since the middle of May and it is still 95 degrees right now with no end in sight! However, people who live here will never admit how long and hot the summers are. Get me out of here!
I love living on the Central Coast of California..coastal climate yields almost perfect weather every year..a little rainy in January but the most perfect summers..not too cold, not too hot, and definately not humid!!
Paradise!
I’m finding it hard to believe that Atlanta isn’t on this list. Given that Miami (#1) states that it’s 75.6 annually. There’s a reason Atlanta is called Hotlanta. We have 9 months of hot, peel your skin off, no breeze, can’t breathe weather and 3 months of no humidity. Why this city is not #1 or even on the list is puzzling. The people doing this must have never come here in the summer.
You are so right!!! Atlanta has two seasons. hot and hotter!!! It should be on this list!!!
Las Vegas isn’t on the list? Have you ever been there in August when it’s 110 in the shade. The Strip is miserable, with all the concrete and asphalt. I’ll admit Vegas is great in January when highs are in the 60s and lows in the 40s.
Houston! It’s horrible in the summer!
Any city in the Rio Grande Valley! I hate to even walk outside most days it’s so sticky! And the bugs!! Skeeters, tics, flees, etc…. 6 years and I’m moving North!!!
Monsoon Season, filthy air, and unending 90+ degree night time ‘lows’ contribute to my vote for Mesa, Arizona as the#1 choice for the worst Hot city in America
I spent Aug. 28 & 29 in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, beautiful. Hot with a strong breeze off the Atlantic. Wish I could have stayed longer!
after spending 7 weeks in Bullhead City , Az,,, I cannot understand with their temperatures why they are not on the list,,, Needles, Ca,, is just as hot also whew,, guess ” it’s a dry heat” has something to do with it,,, the grand canyon not too far away was refreshing with the cool evenings,, go figure same state…
Phoenix should have been #1!!!!!!
I love Okla. most of the year but if you like it here in July and Aug, you’re nuts. 100+ TEMP nearly every day, a nice day is 98. Temp.s at night never drop out of the 80’s . Humidity as high as New Orleans but it doesn’t rain and drop the temp.
Fontana,Ca. deset like condition with what is called santa anas’ wind. Where the cajon pass(15fwy)lets these Devil winds through any time in the year or not. When it is blowing sometimes you can travel 3 blocks in either direction and there is none then thinking all is well you go home to the same constant and you don’t go anywhere cause you think its blowing everywhere.
I totally agree with Miami being #1 it is miserable there in the summer..!!!!!!!