These cities Had 97 to 100 degree temperatures in February

By Sam Stebbins  •  March 6, 2026
The thermometer shows a very hot temperature.
Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash

The final month of the meteorological winter, February is also one of the coldest months in the United States. Across the Lower 48, the average temperature in February was 33.8°F throughout the 20th century – colder than nearly every other month, with the exceptions of December and January, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Even in the South and the Southeast, regions that are home to the warmest states in the country, February temperatures have historically been below 50°F on average. 

But in the era of climate change, historical weather norms are increasingly becoming a less reliable predictor of seasonal conditions. In each of the last three years of available data, from 2023 to 2025, average February temperatures have exceeded the 20th century average by at least one degree. Local weather station data from last month also suggests that this trend may have continued – or accelerated – in February 2026.

According to data compiled by NOAA, local temperatures exceeded all-time highs for the month of February on 134 occasions last month. New monthly record-highs were reported across a broad swath of the country, from the Southeast to the Rockies and Western United States. In several cases, record-high temperatures last month approached or exceeded 100°F.

Using data from NOAA’s Daily Weather Records program, Climate Crisis 247 identified the places that reported extreme heat in February 2026. We reviewed data on all-time high monthly temperatures in February 2026 and ranked the 10 locations reporting the hottest days last month. All supplemental data on local monthly norms, previous February record-highs, and when the reporting weather station began operations are also from NOAA. Local monthly norms reflect 30-year average temperatures, recorded between 1991 and 2020. 

All 10 weather stations on this list reported temperatures of at least 97°F in February 2026. In some cases, record-high February temperatures in 2026 exceeded 100°F. For reference, 100 degree-plus temperatures in February are more commonly reported in parts of the Southern Hemisphere where the month is part of the meteorological summer. In South Texas on February 27, for example, temperatures topped 105°F, on par with the hottest places on Earth, which, according to a global temperature database, were spread across parts of Africa, Australia, and Latin America that day. 

10. Imperial Co. Airport Weather Station; Imperial County, California

  • Highest February temperature on record: 97°F on Feb. 28, 2026
  • Previous February record-high: 96°F on Feb. 27, 2026
  • Local February temperature norms: 73.7°F daily high, 59.4°F daily avg. 
  • Local record keeping began: 64 years ago

9. Borrego Desert Park Weather Station; San Diego County, California

  • Highest February temperature on record: 98°F on Feb. 28, 2026
  • Previous February record-high: 95°F on Feb. 27, 2026
  • Local February temperature norms: 72.3°F daily high, 59.8°F daily avg. 
  • Local record keeping began: 58 years ago

8. Hondo Municipal Airport Weather Station; Medina County, Texas

  • Highest February temperature on record: 99°F on Feb. 26, 2026
  • Previous February record-high: 98°F on Feb. 21, 1996
  • Local February temperature norms: 69.7°F daily high, 56.6°F daily avg. 
  • Local record keeping began: 51 years ago

7. El Centro 2 SSW Weather Station; Imperial County, California

  • Highest February temperature on record: 99°F on Feb. 28, 2026
  • Previous February record-high: 96°F on Feb. 27, 2026
  • Local February temperature norms: 74.0°F daily high, 60.3°F daily avg. 
  • Local record keeping began: 94 years ago

6. Choke Canyon Dam Weather Station; Live Oak County, Texas

  • Highest February temperature on record: 100°F on Feb. 27, 2026
  • Previous February record-high: 99°F on Feb. 22, 1996
  • Local February temperature norms: 68.4°F daily high, 57.6°F daily avg. 
  • Local record keeping began: 42 years ago

5. Kingsville Weather Station; Kleberg County, Texas

  • Highest February temperature on record: 100°F on Feb. 27, 2026
  • Previous February record-high: 98°F on Feb. 19, 1986
  • Local February temperature norms: 72.4°F daily high, 61.8°F daily avg. 
  • Local record keeping began: 100 years ago
man in black jacket standing on brown sand during sunset
Photo by Tyler Scheviak on Unsplash

4. Tacna 3 NE Weather Station; Yuma County, Arizona

  • Highest February temperature on record: 100°F on Feb. 28, 2026
  • Previous February record-high: 97°F on Feb. 27, 2026
  • Local February temperature norms: 74.6°F daily high, 57.9°F daily avg. 
  • Local record keeping began: 57 years ago

3. Freer Weather Station; Duval County, Texas

  • Highest February temperature on record: 103°F on Feb. 27, 2026
  • Previous February record-high: 101°F on Feb. 22, 1996
  • Local February temperature norms: 71.2°F daily high, 59.6°F daily avg. 
  • Local record keeping began: 63 years ago

2. Cotulla La Salle Co. Airport Weather Station; La Salle County, Texas

  • Highest February temperature on record: 103°F on Feb. 26, 2026
  • Previous February record-high: 100°F on Feb. 23, 2017
  • Local February temperature norms: 73.6°F daily high, 60.9°F daily avg. 
  • Local record keeping began: 76 years ago

1. Falcon Dam Weather Station; Starr County, Texas

  • Highest February temperature on record: 106°F on Feb. 27, 2026
  • Previous February record-high: 103°F on Feb. 24, 2017
  • Local February temperature norms: 77.1°F daily high, 64.9°F daily avg. 
  • Local record keeping began: 64 years ago


Similar Posts