Average annual temperature in the United States 1895-2023

The average temperature in the contiguous United States reached 54.41 degrees Fahrenheit (12.45 degrees Celsius) in 2023. This was approximately 2.39 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the 20th century average. That same year, it was common for temperatures to be near-record or even record breaking. Monthly average temperatures in the U.S. were also indicative of this trend.

Temperatures and emissions are on the rise

The rise in temperatures since 1975 is similar to the rise in carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S.. Although CO₂ emissions in recent years were lower than when they peaked in 2007, they were still generally higher than levels recorded prior to 1990. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and is the main driver of climate change.

Extreme weather

Scientists around the world have found links between the rise in temperatures and changing weather patterns. Extreme weather in the U.S. has resulted in natural disasters such as hurricanes and extreme heat waves becoming more likely. Economic damage caused by extreme temperatures in the U.S. has amounted to hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars over the past few decades.