Hottest Super Bowls in NFL History

Temperatures have been steadily rising for more than a century in the United States. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the country has been warming at a rate of approximately 0.2°F per decade since 1895. While rising temperatures are evident year round, winter is the fastest warming season in most of the country. A recent study from Climate Central, an independent research organization, analyzed historical temperatures for the months of December, January, and February in 244 U.S. cities. In these places, winter temperatures increased by an average of 3.9°F between 1970 and 2025. 

Despite the national warming trend, freezing winter temperatures are still the norm in much of the Midwest, Northeast, and Rocky Mountain regions. But in parts of the country that typically have milder winters, high temperatures normally associated with the summer months are becoming increasingly common. These places include many heavily-populated metro areas, such as Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Phoenix, San Diego, and Tampa, Florida. Incidentally, these places have collectively hosted 45 of the 59 Super Bowls in NFL history. 

This coming weekend, Super Bowl LX will be held in Santa Clara, California at Levi Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. As is the case with most Super Bowl host cities of years past, Santa Clara tends to have mild winter temperatures. According to NOAA, Santa Clara County had an average 20th century high of 57.3°F during the month of February. 

Abnormally hot days in the month of February are becoming increasingly common around Levi Stadium, however. According to local, historical data going back to 1906, there have been 40 days when temperatures in the area have exceeded 75°F in the month of February. Notably, a majority of those days were reported in the last decade – including three when temperatures climbed into the 80s. These temperatures far exceed average summer norms in Santa Clara County, and should they return on Super Bowl Sunday, players and ticketholders will be subject to the elements, as Levi Stadium is an open air facility. 

Using data from NOAA’s Northeast Regional Climate Center, Climate Crisis 247 identified the hottest Super Bowls in NFL history. We reviewed the date and location of each of the 59 previous Super Bowls, and matched that information with historical local weather reports from NOAA’s NRCC. Super Bowls are ranked by the local game day high. Scores, dates, and locations for each Super Bowl are as reported by Pro Football Reference. Supplemental data on climate norms are from the NRCC.

Of all 59 Super Bowls in NFL history, 11 were played on days where local temperatures exceeded 75°F. In four of these games, the mercury topped 80°F. For each of these Super Bowls, local game day highs were anywhere from 2.2°F to 19.5°F above the normal, 30-year daily highs for the respective calendar date. Notably, five of the Super Bowls on this list took place in the last decade, including one at Levi Stadium. 

11. Super Bowl 50 – Feb. 7, 2016

• Location: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California (Santa Clara County)
• Local game day temperatures: 76°F high (14.6°F above normal local daily high), 60°F average (7.7°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: 0 inches
• Game outcome: Denver Broncos, 24 points; Carolina Panthers, 10 points

10. Super Bowl LIX – Feb. 9, 2025

• Location: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana (Orleans Parish)
• Local game day temperatures: 76°F high (11.9°F above normal local daily high), 70°F average (13.1°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: 0.1 inches
• Game outcome: Philadelphia Eagles, 40 points; Kansas City Chiefs, 22 points

9. Super Bowl LVII – Feb. 12, 2023

• Location: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (Maricopa County)
• Local game day temperatures: 77°F high (8.9°F above normal local daily high), 61.5°F average (4.7°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: 0 inches
• Game outcome: Kansas City Chiefs, 38 points; Philadelphia Eagles, 35 points

8. Super Bowl VII – Jan. 14, 1973

• Location: Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles County)
• Local game day temperatures: 77°F high (10.5°F above normal local daily high), 66°F average (8.1°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: 0 inches
• Game outcome: Miami Dolphins, 14 points; Washington Redskins, 7 points

7. Super Bowl XXI – Jan. 25, 1987

• Location: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California (Los Angeles County)
• Local game day temperatures: 78°F high (9.4°F above normal local daily high), 61.5°F average (4.4°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: 0 inches
• Game outcome: New York Giants, 39 points; Denver Broncos, 20 points

6. Super Bowl LI – Feb. 5, 2017

• Location: NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas (Harris County)
• Local game day temperatures: 79°F high (12.9°F above normal local daily high), 70.5°F average (14.7°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: 0.1 inches
• Game outcome: New England Patriots, 34 points; Atlanta Falcons, 28 points

5. Super Bowl XXXIII – Jan. 31, 1999

• Location: Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (Miami-Dade County)
• Local game day temperatures: 79°F high (2.2°F above normal local daily high), 73.5°F average (4.4°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: trace amounts
• Game outcome: Denver Broncos, 34 points; Atlanta Falcons, 19 points

4. Super Bowl XXIII – Jan. 22, 1989

• Location: Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (Miami-Dade County)
• Local game day temperatures: 81°F high (4.9°F above normal local daily high), 72.5°F average (4.1°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: 0.03 inches
• Game outcome: San Francisco 49ers, 20 points; Cincinnati Bengals, 16 points

3. Super Bowl XXIX – Jan. 29, 1995

• Location: Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (Miami-Dade County)
• Local game day temperatures: 81°F high (4.4°F above normal local daily high), 73.5°F average (4.6°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: trace amounts
• Game outcome: San Francisco 49ers, 49 points; San Diego Chargers, 26 points

2. Super Bowl XXXVII – Jan. 26, 2003

• Location: Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California (San Diego County)
• Local game day temperatures: 82°F high (15.4°F above normal local daily high), 68.5°F average (9.9°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: 0 inches
• Game outcome: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 48 points; Oakland Raiders, 21 points

1. Super Bowl LVI – Feb. 13, 2022

• Location: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (Los Angeles County)
• Local game day temperatures: 85°F high (19.5°F above normal local daily high), 72.5°F average (14.8°F above normal local daily average)
• Local game day precipitation: 0 inches
• Game outcome: Los Angeles Rams, 23 points; Cincinnati Bengals, 20 points