National Weather ServiceExtreme Heat WarningVTEC EH.W, XH.WArchive to October 1, 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) | 315 |
| 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 1, 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 1, 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 1, 2026.
The latest extreme heat warnings in AreaZine's record
NWS San DiegoWarningOctober 1, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: Orange County Coastal, CA
In force until 8:00 p.m. PDT, October 8, 2026
NWS San JuanWarningSeptember 11, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: San Juan and Vicinity, Northeast, Southeast and 8 more, PR
Expired 5:00 p.m. EDT, September 11, 2026
NWS San JuanWarningSeptember 10, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: San Juan and Vicinity, Northeast, Southeast and 8 more, PR
Expired 5:00 p.m. EDT, September 10, 2026
NWS Las VegasWarningSeptember 9, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: Lake Havasu and Fort Mohave, Lake Mead - AZ side, Lake Mohave - AZ side and 9 more, AZ and CA
Expired 8:00 p.m. PDT, September 10, 2026
NWS San DiegoWarningSeptember 9, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: San Diego County Coastal Areas and Orange County Coastal, CA
Expired 8:00 p.m. PDT, September 9, 2026
NWS TulsaWarningSeptember 8, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: North and Central Sebastian, Southern Crawford, Central and Southern Franklin and 10 more, AR and OK
Expired 7:00 p.m. CDT, September 9, 2026
NWS Los Angeles/OxnardWarningSeptember 8, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: Malibu Coast, Los Angeles County Beaches, Palos Verdes Hills and 7 more, CA
Expired 8:00 p.m. PDT, September 10, 2026
NWS TulsaWarningSeptember 7, 2026
Extreme Heat Warning: North and Central Sebastian, Southern Crawford, Central and Southern Franklin and 10 more, AR and OK
Expired 8:00 p.m. CDT, September 8, 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 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.