Cities Where Fall is Starting with 100-Plus Degree Temperatures

The meteorological fall begins on September 1st in the United States – and for much of the country, fall will represent a welcome departure from this summer’s historic heat. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July 2026 was the hottest month ever in the Lower 48, with an average temperature of 76.9°F. While the average national temperature for August has not yet been released, local weather station data shows that daily record high temperatures were either matched or broken over 70 times between August 1st and 25th of this year. 

Historically, fall marks the beginning of an atmospheric cooling trend, as the days get shorter and the sun falls lower in the sky. But this year, the first few days of the season are expected to bring dangerously high temperatures to millions of Americans. 

According to local forecasts from the NOAA Southeast Regional Climate Center, a fall heatwave is sweeping across a large swath of the Midwest, South, and Southwest in the coming days. Multiple cities in the region are bracing for triple-digit temperatures that are expected to top historical norms by as much as 15°F. 

Using data from the NOAA SRCC, Climate Crisis 247 identified the cities where fall 2026 will start with 100-plus degree temperatures. We reviewed all cities with available data that are forecasted to have daily highs of more than 99°F on each of the first three days of fall. Cities where temperatures are not expected to hit triple digits between Sept. 1-3, 2026, were excluded. Cities are ranked on the average departure from daily temperature norms, and only the top 10 cities are listed. 

10. Abilene, Texas

• High temperature forecast for Tuesday, September 1: 100.0°F (7.3°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, September 2: 101.9°F (9.5°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, September 3: 101.9°F (9.8°F warmer than normal)
• Dallas-Fort Worth population: 128,053

9. Wichita Falls, Texas

• High temperature forecast for Tuesday, September 1: 101.9°F (8.9°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, September 2: 101.9°F (9.2°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, September 3: 103.0°F (10.6°F warmer than normal)
• Dallas-Fort Worth population: 102,581

8. Childress, Texas

• High temperature forecast for Tuesday, September 1: 101.0°F (9.9°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, September 2: 101.0°F (10.2°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, September 3: 103.0°F (12.5°F warmer than normal)
• Dallas-Fort Worth population: 5,834

7. Fort Smith, Arkansas

• High temperature forecast for Tuesday, September 1: 101.9°F (11.1°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, September 2: 101.0°F (10.5°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, September 3: 101.9°F (11.6°F warmer than normal)
• Dallas-Fort Worth population: 89,805

6. Tulsa, Oklahoma

• High temperature forecast for Tuesday, September 1: 101.9°F (12.2°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, September 2: 100.0°F (10.5°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, September 3: 101.0°F (11.9°F warmer than normal)
• Dallas-Fort Worth population: 413,794

5. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• High temperature forecast for Tuesday, September 1: 100.0°F (11.4°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, September 2: 99.1°F (10.7°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, September 3: 101.0°F (13.0°F warmer than normal)
• Dallas-Fort Worth population: 697,125

4. Dodge City, Kansas

• High temperature forecast for Tuesday, September 1: 101.0°F (12.6°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, September 2: 101.0°F (12.9°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, September 3: 101.0°F (13.1°F warmer than normal)
• Dallas-Fort Worth population: 27,613

3. Wichita, Kansas

• High temperature forecast for Tuesday, September 1: 101.9°F (13.9°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, September 2: 101.0°F (13.3°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, September 3: 101.0°F (13.5°F warmer than normal)
• Dallas-Fort Worth population: 397,945

2. St Louis, Missouri

• High temperature forecast for Tuesday, September 1: 100.0°F (14.3°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, September 2: 99.1°F (13.6°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, September 3: 99.1°F (13.8°F warmer than normal)
• Dallas-Fort Worth population: 288,512

1. Salina, Kansas

• High temperature forecast for Tuesday, September 1: 101.9°F (15.0°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, September 2: 101.0°F (14.4°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, September 3: 100.0°F (13.6°F warmer than normal)
• Dallas-Fort Worth population: 46,307