National Weather ServiceExtreme Heat WarningVTEC EH.W, XH.WArchive to October 8, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 183 extreme heat warnings in 2025 and 153 a year on average in 2008-2025; Texas, Arkansas and California got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 315, 108% above the average of 151 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is an extreme heat warning?
An extreme heat warning means dangerous heat is expected, measured by heat index or temperature thresholds each office sets. It replaced the excessive heat warning in 2025. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property. AreaZine's counts include the excessive heat warnings issued before the change.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many extreme heat warnings a year?
National count: each extreme heat warning counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 319 |
| 2025 | 183 |
| 2024 | 346 |
| 2023 | 607 |
| 2022 | 193 |
| 2021 | 167 |
| 2020 | 148 |
| 2019 | 137 |
| 2018 | 121 |
| 2017 | 80 |
| 2016 | 105 |
| 2015 | 78 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2013 | 37 |
| 2012 | 141 |
| 2011 | 158 |
| 2010 | 130 |
| 2009 | 38 |
| 2008 | 60 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 8, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 8, 2026.
Which states get the most extreme heat warnings?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A extreme heat warning covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 61 | 21 | 4 |
| Arkansas | 45 | 19 | 32 |
| California | 40 | 28 | 25 |
| Louisiana | 32 | 11 | 12 |
| Mississippi | 29 | 12 | 19 |
| Puerto Rico | 26 | 7 | 16 |
| Oklahoma | 26 | 12 | 5 |
| Arizona | 24 | 21 | 27 |
| Missouri | 15 | 11 | 19 |
| Florida | 12 | 4 | 4 |
| Kansas | 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Nevada | 10 | 6 | 9 |
| Oregon | 8 | 4 | 8 |
| Alabama | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Washington | 8 | 4 | 10 |
| Tennessee | 8 | 4 | 11 |
| Iowa | 7 | 5 | 9 |
| Illinois | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| Nebraska | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| Idaho | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| North Carolina | 7 | 4 | 10 |
| Georgia | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| Indiana | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Minnesota | 5 | 4 | 8 |
| Kentucky | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Virginia | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Utah | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| New Jersey | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Maryland | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Ohio | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| South Dakota | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Montana | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| New Mexico | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Delaware | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| South Carolina | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| West Virginia | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| District of Columbia | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| New York | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Maine | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Wyoming | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Massachusetts | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| North Dakota | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 8, 2026.
The latest extreme heat warnings in AreaZine's record
NWS Los Angeles/OxnardWarningOctober 8, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: Cuyama Valley, Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast, Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast and 4 more, CA
In force until 8:00 p.m. PDT, October 8, 2026
NWS Las VegasWarningOctober 8, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: Death Valley National Park, CA
In force until 8:00 p.m. PDT, October 9, 2026
NWS San DiegoWarningOctober 8, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys-The Inland Empire, CA
In force until 8:00 p.m. PDT, October 8, 2026
NWS PhoenixWarningOctober 7, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: Yuma, AZ
In force until 8:00 p.m. PDT, October 9, 2026
This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).
Extreme Heat Warnings in states without a page of their own, in AreaZine's record
326 notices in AreaZine's record; the latest first below. Every one, oldest first: June 11, 2026 to August 14, 2026 · August 14, 2026 to September 2, 2026.
- Extreme Heat Warning: Iowa, Johnson, Cedar and 21 more, IA and IL Iowa, Johnson, Cedar and 21 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Inland Broward County, Metro Broward County, Inland Miami-Dade County and 4 more, FL Inland Broward County, Metro Broward County, Inland Miami-Dade County and 4 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Mobile Central, Baldwin Central, Mobile Coastal and 4 more, AL and FL Mobile Central, Baldwin Central, Mobile Coastal and 4 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Mobile Central, Baldwin Central, Mobile Coastal and 4 more, AL and FL Mobile Central, Baldwin Central, Mobile Coastal and 4 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Mainland Dare and Mainland Hyde, NC Mainland Dare and Mainland Hyde expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Duplin, Pamlico, Southern Craven and 4 more, NC Duplin, Pamlico, Southern Craven and 4 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Columbus, Inland Pender, Coastal Pender and 10 more, NC and SC Columbus, Inland Pender, Coastal Pender and 10 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Inland Bay, Calhoun, Inland Gulf and 12 more, FL Inland Bay, Calhoun, Inland Gulf and 12 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Central Walton, Holmes, Washington and 14 more, FL and GA Central Walton, Holmes, Washington and 14 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Inland Bryan, Inland Chatham, Inland Liberty and 2 more, GA and SC Inland Bryan, Inland Chatham, Inland Liberty and 2 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Coastal Bryan, Coastal Chatham, Coastal Liberty and 8 more, GA and SC Coastal Bryan, Coastal Chatham, Coastal Liberty and 8 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Effingham, GA Effingham expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Suwannee, Baker, Inland Nassau and 30 more, FL and GA Suwannee, Baker, Inland Nassau and 30 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Inland Glynn, Coastal Glynn, Inland Camden and 1 more, GA Inland Glynn, Coastal Glynn, Inland Camden and 1 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Mobile Central, Baldwin Central, Mobile Coastal and 4 more, AL and FL Mobile Central, Baldwin Central, Mobile Coastal and 4 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Bladen, Columbus, Inland Pender and 13 more, NC and SC Bladen, Columbus, Inland Pender and 13 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Duplin, Jones, Pamlico and 6 more, NC Duplin, Jones, Pamlico and 6 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Coastal Bryan, Coastal Chatham, Coastal Liberty and 8 more, GA and SC Coastal Bryan, Coastal Chatham, Coastal Liberty and 8 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Inland Bay, Calhoun, Inland Gulf and 12 more, FL Inland Bay, Calhoun, Inland Gulf and 12 more expired
- Extreme Heat Warning: Inland Glynn, Coastal Glynn, Inland Camden and 1 more, GA Inland Glynn, Coastal Glynn, Inland Camden and 1 more expired
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov). A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
Extreme Heat Warning or extreme heat watch?
A extreme heat watch (for a wide area, hours or days ahead) means the conditions are possible: be ready; a extreme heat warning (from the local NWS office, for the area at risk) means the hazard is happening or imminent: act now. An extreme heat watch means dangerous heat is possible in the coming days. It replaced the excessive heat watch in 2025. A watch means the conditions for the hazard are possible or favourable, but it is not yet happening: be ready to act if a warning follows. The NWS issued 117 extreme heat watches in 2025, against 183 extreme heat warnings. The extreme heat watch record.