Texas cities see up to 26 more hot days

Texas Heat Wave: Trends and Predictions

It's not just in your head — Texas really is getting hotter. Last year was the hottest ever recorded, and 2025 isn’t offering much relief. This spring is already shaping up to be one of the warmest on record across the contiguous United States.

Scientists say the trend is unlikely to reverse anytime soon. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there is a 99% chance that this year will rank among the top five hottest globally.

Prolonged Heat in Texas

Texas summers aren’t just getting hotter — they’re dragging on longer, too. The first 90-degree days are showing up earlier, and stretches of extreme heat are lasting longer than ever, an analysis from USA TODAY found.

Cities Affected by Heat

A USA TODAY analysis of heat index data since 1985 for 310 major cities found that most of them ‒ about 8 in 10 ‒ have experienced an increase in the number of days each year with a heat index of 90 degrees or higher.

Cities across the South, Southwest and Southeast saw the sharpest increases, while only the Northern Rockies and Plains and the Upper Midwest experienced a decline.

New Mexico may top the list with the three fastest-warming cities, but Texas dominates overall — claiming more than half of the top 15.

In Texas, Abilene and Amarillo lead the state, each seeing 26 more hot days per year compared to 1985.

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Understanding Heat Index

The temperature is the actual air reading — what a thermometer records in the shade. The heat index, on the other hand, represents what it feels like to the human body when both temperature and humidity are factored in, according to the National Weather Service.

When humidity is high, sweat doesn’t evaporate as easily, making it harder for your body to cool down. That’s why the heat index is often higher than the air temperature, and why it’s used to gauge the risk of heat-related illness.