US states by cooling degree days

Florida had the highest cooling degree days of 48 states in 2020, at 4,071 degree days (base 65°F). Washington had the lowest, at 183 degree days (base 65°F). The median was 935 degree days (base 65°F) and the figure for the United States was 1,503 degree days (base 65°F). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest4,071Florida
Lowest183Washington
Median93548 states
United States1,503History

Map of states, 2020

Alabama: 1,987 degree days (base 65°F)Arizona: 3,557 degree days (base 65°F)Arkansas: 1,604 degree days (base 65°F)California: 1,206 degree days (base 65°F)Colorado: 452 degree days (base 65°F)Connecticut: 772 degree days (base 65°F)Delaware: 1,256 degree days (base 65°F)Florida: 4,071 degree days (base 65°F)Georgia: 1,786 degree days (base 65°F)Idaho: 487 degree days (base 65°F)Illinois: 951 degree days (base 65°F)Indiana: 919 degree days (base 65°F)Iowa: 879 degree days (base 65°F)Kansas: 1,395 degree days (base 65°F)Kentucky: 1,208 degree days (base 65°F)Louisiana: 2,856 degree days (base 65°F)Maine: 312 degree days (base 65°F)Maryland: 1,251 degree days (base 65°F)Massachusetts: 702 degree days (base 65°F)Michigan: 699 degree days (base 65°F)Minnesota: 552 degree days (base 65°F)Mississippi: 2,262 degree days (base 65°F)Missouri: 1,222 degree days (base 65°F)Montana: 202 degree days (base 65°F)Nebraska: 1,093 degree days (base 65°F)Nevada: 2,488 degree days (base 65°F)New Hampshire: 417 degree days (base 65°F)New Jersey: 1,025 degree days (base 65°F)New Mexico: 1,261 degree days (base 65°F)New York: 769 degree days (base 65°F)North Carolina: 1,463 degree days (base 65°F)North Dakota: 533 degree days (base 65°F)Ohio: 876 degree days (base 65°F)Oklahoma: 1,784 degree days (base 65°F)Oregon: 253 degree days (base 65°F)Pennsylvania: 844 degree days (base 65°F)Rhode Island: 756 degree days (base 65°F)South Carolina: 1,957 degree days (base 65°F)South Dakota: 795 degree days (base 65°F)Tennessee: 1,391 degree days (base 65°F)Texas: 2,961 degree days (base 65°F)Utah: 653 degree days (base 65°F)Vermont: 319 degree days (base 65°F)Virginia: 1,204 degree days (base 65°F)Washington: 183 degree days (base 65°F)West Virginia: 873 degree days (base 65°F)Wisconsin: 605 degree days (base 65°F)Wyoming: 356 degree days (base 65°F)
  • Under 480
  • 480 to 760
  • 760 to 940
  • 940 to 1,300
  • 1,300 to 1,800
  • 1,800 and over
  • No data
degree days (base 65°F), 2020. Hatched areas have no value for this period. Source: NOAA NCEI, NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2020

Florida: 4,071 degree days (base 65°F)Florida4,071Arizona: 3,557 degree days (base 65°F)Arizona3,557Texas: 2,961 degree days (base 65°F)Texas2,961Louisiana: 2,856 degree days (base 65°F)Louisiana2,856Nevada: 2,488 degree days (base 65°F)Nevada2,488Mississippi: 2,262 degree days (base 65°F)Mississippi2,262Alabama: 1,987 degree days (base 65°F)Alabama1,987South Carolina: 1,957 degree days (base 65°F)South Carolina1,957Georgia: 1,786 degree days (base 65°F)Georgia1,786Oklahoma: 1,784 degree days (base 65°F)Oklahoma1,784Arkansas: 1,604 degree days (base 65°F)Arkansas1,604North Carolina: 1,463 degree days (base 65°F)North Carolina1,463Kansas: 1,395 degree days (base 65°F)Kansas1,395Tennessee: 1,391 degree days (base 65°F)Tennessee1,391New Mexico: 1,261 degree days (base 65°F)New Mexico1,261Delaware: 1,256 degree days (base 65°F)Delaware1,256Maryland: 1,251 degree days (base 65°F)Maryland1,251Missouri: 1,222 degree days (base 65°F)Missouri1,222Kentucky: 1,208 degree days (base 65°F)Kentucky1,208California: 1,206 degree days (base 65°F)California1,206Virginia: 1,204 degree days (base 65°F)Virginia1,204Nebraska: 1,093 degree days (base 65°F)Nebraska1,093New Jersey: 1,025 degree days (base 65°F)New Jersey1,025Illinois: 951 degree days (base 65°F)Illinois951Indiana: 919 degree days (base 65°F)Indiana919Iowa: 879 degree days (base 65°F)Iowa879Ohio: 876 degree days (base 65°F)Ohio876West Virginia: 873 degree days (base 65°F)West Virginia873Pennsylvania: 844 degree days (base 65°F)Pennsylvania844South Dakota: 795 degree days (base 65°F)South Dakota795Connecticut: 772 degree days (base 65°F)Connecticut772New York: 769 degree days (base 65°F)New York769Rhode Island: 756 degree days (base 65°F)Rhode Island756Massachusetts: 702 degree days (base 65°F)Massachusetts702Michigan: 699 degree days (base 65°F)Michigan699Utah: 653 degree days (base 65°F)Utah653Wisconsin: 605 degree days (base 65°F)Wisconsin605Minnesota: 552 degree days (base 65°F)Minnesota552North Dakota: 533 degree days (base 65°F)North Dakota533Idaho: 487 degree days (base 65°F)Idaho487Colorado: 452 degree days (base 65°F)Colorado452New Hampshire: 417 degree days (base 65°F)New Hampshire417Wyoming: 356 degree days (base 65°F)Wyoming356Vermont: 319 degree days (base 65°F)Vermont319Maine: 312 degree days (base 65°F)Maine312Oregon: 253 degree days (base 65°F)Oregon253Montana: 202 degree days (base 65°F)Montana202Washington: 183 degree days (base 65°F)Washington183Florida: 4,071 degree days (base 65°F)Florida4,071Arizona: 3,557 degree days (base 65°F)Arizona3,557Texas: 2,961 degree days (base 65°F)Texas2,961Louisiana: 2,856 degree days (base 65°F)Louisiana2,856Nevada: 2,488 degree days (base 65°F)Nevada2,488Mississippi: 2,262 degree days (base 65°F)Mississippi2,262Alabama: 1,987 degree days (base 65°F)Alabama1,987South Carolina: 1,957 degree days (base 65°F)South Carolina1,957Georgia: 1,786 degree days (base 65°F)Georgia1,786Oklahoma: 1,784 degree days (base 65°F)Oklahoma1,784Arkansas: 1,604 degree days (base 65°F)Arkansas1,604North Carolina: 1,463 degree days (base 65°F)North Carolina1,463Kansas: 1,395 degree days (base 65°F)Kansas1,395Tennessee: 1,391 degree days (base 65°F)Tennessee1,391New Mexico: 1,261 degree days (base 65°F)New Mexico1,261Delaware: 1,256 degree days (base 65°F)Delaware1,256Maryland: 1,251 degree days (base 65°F)Maryland1,251Missouri: 1,222 degree days (base 65°F)Missouri1,222Kentucky: 1,208 degree days (base 65°F)Kentucky1,208California: 1,206 degree days (base 65°F)California1,206Virginia: 1,204 degree days (base 65°F)Virginia1,204Nebraska: 1,093 degree days (base 65°F)Nebraska1,093New Jersey: 1,025 degree days (base 65°F)New Jersey1,025Illinois: 951 degree days (base 65°F)Illinois951Indiana: 919 degree days (base 65°F)Indiana919Iowa: 879 degree days (base 65°F)Iowa879Ohio: 876 degree days (base 65°F)Ohio876West Virginia: 873 degree days (base 65°F)West Virginia873Pennsylvania: 844 degree days (base 65°F)Pennsylvania844South Dakota: 795 degree days (base 65°F)South Dakota795Connecticut: 772 degree days (base 65°F)Connecticut772New York: 769 degree days (base 65°F)New York769Rhode Island: 756 degree days (base 65°F)Rhode Island756Massachusetts: 702 degree days (base 65°F)Massachusetts702Michigan: 699 degree days (base 65°F)Michigan699Utah: 653 degree days (base 65°F)Utah653Wisconsin: 605 degree days (base 65°F)Wisconsin605Minnesota: 552 degree days (base 65°F)Minnesota552North Dakota: 533 degree days (base 65°F)North Dakota533Idaho: 487 degree days (base 65°F)Idaho487Colorado: 452 degree days (base 65°F)Colorado452New Hampshire: 417 degree days (base 65°F)New Hampshire417Wyoming: 356 degree days (base 65°F)Wyoming356Vermont: 319 degree days (base 65°F)Vermont319Maine: 312 degree days (base 65°F)Maine312Oregon: 253 degree days (base 65°F)Oregon253Montana: 202 degree days (base 65°F)Montana202Washington: 183 degree days (base 65°F)Washington183
degree days (base 65°F). Source: NOAA NCEI, NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2020
degree days (base 65°F)
Change on 2019
1Florida4,071+0.4%
2Arizona3,557+19.6%
3Texas2,961+1%
4Louisiana2,856-2.1%
5Nevada2,488+23.7%
6Mississippi2,262-6.8%
7Alabama1,987-13.1%
8South Carolina1,957-14.9%
9Georgia1,786-14.7%
10Oklahoma1,784-9.9%
11Arkansas1,604-14%
12North Carolina1,463-19.1%
13Kansas1,395-4.7%
14Tennessee1,391-15.7%
15New Mexico1,261+12.6%
16Delaware1,256-8.7%
17Maryland1,251-8.4%
18Missouri1,222-8.7%
19Kentucky1,208-16.1%
20California1,206+34.6%
21Virginia1,204-14.6%
22Nebraska1,093+6.3%
23New Jersey1,025+0.1%
24Illinois951+1.6%
25Indiana919-8.6%
26Iowa879+5.9%
27Ohio876-7.3%
28West Virginia873-12.3%
29Pennsylvania844+3.3%
30South Dakota795+26.6%
31Connecticut772+15.9%
32New York769+16.5%
33Rhode Island756+21.2%
34Massachusetts702+21.7%
35Michigan699+10.3%
36Utah653+28.5%
37Wisconsin605+17.2%
38Minnesota552+26.6%
39North Dakota533+36%
40Idaho487+7.5%
41Colorado452+21.5%
42New Hampshire417+26.4%
43Wyoming356+44.7%
44Vermont319+36.9%
45Maine312+22.4%
46Oregon253+18.8%
47Montana202+37.4%
48Washington183-1.1%

Other periods

About this ranking

Sum over January to December of the degrees by which the daily mean temperature exceeds 65°F, a measure of cooling demand. NOAA estimates monthly values from nClimDiv temperatures and weights areas by population (2010 Census).

NOAA publishes these for operational monitoring; they can differ from official degree day publications.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance. NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide. From the NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Divisional Database (nClimDiv), doi:10.7289/V5M32STR. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series/8/cdd/12/12/1895-2025/data.json. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

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APA 7

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. (2026). NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide (US states by cooling degree days, 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series/8/cdd/12/12/1895-2025/data.json

MLA 9

NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide, US states by cooling degree days, 2020. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 6 Oct. 2026, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series/8/cdd/12/12/1895-2025/data.json. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/cooling-degree-days/us-states?period=2020. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 2026. NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide. US states by cooling degree days, 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series/8/cdd/12/12/1895-2025/data.json. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/cooling-degree-days/us-states?period=2020.

Harvard

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (2026) NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide, US states by cooling degree days, 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series/8/cdd/12/12/1895-2025/data.json, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/cooling-degree-days/us-states?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{noaa_us_states_by_cooling_2020,
  author = {{NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information}},
  title = {{NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide: US states by cooling degree days, 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series/8/cdd/12/12/1895-2025/data.json},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/cooling-degree-days/us-states?period=2020. Publisher attribution: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance. NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide. From the NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Divisional Database (nClimDiv), doi:10.7289/V5M32STR. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series/8/cdd/12/12/1895-2025/data.json. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
TI  - NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide: US states by cooling degree days, 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/06
PB  - NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series/8/cdd/12/12/1895-2025/data.json
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/cooling-degree-days/us-states?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/cooling-degree-days/us-states?period=2020.
N1  - Publisher attribution: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance. NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide. From the NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Divisional Database (nClimDiv), doi:10.7289/V5M32STR. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series/8/cdd/12/12/1895-2025/data.json. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which state has the highest cooling degree days?

Florida, with 4,071 degree days (base 65°F) in 2020, according to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

Which state has the lowest cooling degree days?

Washington, with 183 degree days (base 65°F) in 2020.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December cooling degree days (base 65°F), contiguous US and statewide. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

US states: more rankings