These 25 Places Had Their Hottest Septembers on Record Last Month
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/08002159/249210-150x150.jpgAs hurricanes ravaged the Southeast last month, a large swath of the country was dealing with another extreme weather event: abnormally high temperatures. The average temperature in the United States was 68.6°F in September 2024, the second hottest September on record. In some parts of the country, daily temperatures exceeded climate normals by more than 10°F on average.
Moving? People Are Fleeing These Climate Disaster Zones
Vacation plans? Climate Change Is Forcing Ski Resorts To Close Early
In total, 187 counties broke temperature records for September last month, representing 6.3% of the U.S. population. A closer look at the data reveals a list of counties struggling with high heat throughout the Midwest and other regions where daily average temperatures shattered prior September records last month.
To determine the places that just had their hottest Septembers on record, Climate Crisis 24/7 reviewed county-level data on average monthly temperatures from the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. All counties in the contiguous U.S. were ranked based on the difference in average daily temperature in September 2024 and the prior monthly record average. Only counties where September 2024 ranks as the hottest September on record – going back to 1895 – were included.
25. Richland County, ND
- Average temperature, September 2024: 66.9°F (+1.7°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 65.2°F (September 1931)
- Normal September average: 58.4°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Wahpeton
24. Fall River County, SD
- Average temperature, September 2024: 69.6°F (+1.7°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 67.8°F (September 1998)
- Normal September average: 60.4°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Hot Springs
23. Hubbard County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 64.9°F (+1.8°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 63.1°F (September 2023)
- Normal September average: 55.3°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Park Rapids
22. Sioux County, NE
- Average temperature, September 2024: 67.2°F (+1.8°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 65.4°F (September 1998)
- Normal September average: 58.5°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Harrison
21. Crook County, WY
- Average temperature, September 2024: 66.1°F (+1.9°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 64.2°F (September 1998)
- Normal September average: 56.3°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Sundance
20. Koochiching County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 63.3°F (+1.9°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 61.4°F (September 2009)
- Normal September average: 53.4°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: International Falls
19. Mellette County, SD
- Average temperature, September 2024: 71.7°F (+1.9°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 69.8°F (September 1940)
- Normal September average: 62.7°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: White River
18. Dawes County, NE
- Average temperature, September 2024: 69.3°F (+2.0°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 67.3°F (September 1998)
- Normal September average: 60.2°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Chadron
17. Wilkin County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 67.3°F (+2.0°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 65.3°F (September 2015)
- Normal September average: 58.3°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Breckenridge
16. Clay County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 66.8°F (+2.0°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 64.8°F (September 2023)
- Normal September average: 57.6°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Moorhead
15. Clearwater County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 64.5°F (+2.1°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 62.4°F (September 2015)
- Normal September average: 54.9°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Bagley
14. Bowman County, ND
- Average temperature, September 2024: 66.1°F (+2.1°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 64.0°F (September 1897)
- Normal September average: 56.6°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Bowman
13. Lake County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 61.9°F (+2.1°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 59.7°F (September 2015)
- Normal September average: 52.4°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Two Harbors
12. Custer County, SD
- Average temperature, September 2024: 67.4°F (+2.2°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 65.2°F (September 1998)
- Normal September average: 58.1°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Custer
11. Bennett County, SD
- Average temperature, September 2024: 70.0°F (+2.2°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 67.8°F (September 1897)
- Normal September average: 60.7°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Martin
10. Pennington County, SD
- Average temperature, September 2024: 68.6°F (+2.3°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 66.3°F (September 1998)
- Normal September average: 59.0°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Rapid City
9. Otter Tail County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 66.7°F (+2.3°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 64.4°F (September 1931)
- Normal September average: 56.9°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Fergus Falls
8. Beltrami County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 64.3°F (+2.3°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 62.0°F (September 2009)
- Normal September average: 54.4°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Bemidji
7. Lake of the Woods County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 64.7°F (+2.4°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 62.4°F (September 2009)
- Normal September average: 53.4°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Baudette
6. Oglala Lakota County, SD
- Average temperature, September 2024: 70.5°F (+2.4°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 68.1°F (September 1998)
- Normal September average: 61.0°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Hot Springs
5. Weston County, WY
- Average temperature, September 2024: 67.2°F (+2.5°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 64.8°F (September 1998)
- Normal September average: 57.3°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Newcastle
4. Jackson County, SD
- Average temperature, September 2024: 71.3°F (+2.6°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 68.7°F (September 1998)
- Normal September average: 62.1°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Kadoka
3. Mahnomen County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 65.4°F (+2.6°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 62.8°F (September 2015)
- Normal September average: 55.6°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Mahnomen
2. Becker County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 66.3°F (+3.2°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 63.1°F (September 2015)
- Normal September average: 55.9°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Detroit Lakes
1. Cook County, MN
- Average temperature, September 2024: 61.9°F (+3.6°F above prior record)
- Prior September record: 58.3°F (September 2015)
- Normal September average: 51.5°F (1901-2000)
- County seat: Grand Marais
Sponsor
Find a Vetted Financial Advisor
- Finding a fiduciary financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area in 5 minutes.
- Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Get on the path toward achieving your financial goals!