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Florida
70.70
Hawaii
70.00
Louisiana
66.40
Texas
64.80
Georgia
63.50
Mississippi
63.40
Alabama
62.80
South Carolina
62.40
Arkansas
60.40
Arizona
60.30
Oklahoma
59.60
California
59.40
North Carolina
59.00
Tennessee
57.60
Kentucky
55.60
Delaware
55.30
Virginia
55.10
Missouri
54.50
Kansas
54.30
Maryland
54.20
New Mexico
53.40
New Jersey
52.70
Illinois
51.80
West Virginia
51.80
Indiana
51.70
Ohio
50.70
Rhode Island
50.10
Nevada
49.90
Connecticut
49.00
Nebraska
48.80
Pennsylvania
48.80
Utah
48.60
Oregon
48.40
Washington
48.30
Massachusetts
47.90
Iowa
47.80
New York
45.40
South Dakota
45.20
Colorado
45.10
Idaho
44.40
Michigan
44.40
New Hampshire
43.80
Wisconsin
43.10
Vermont
42.90
Montana
42.70
Wyoming
42.00
Minnesota
41.20
Maine
41.00
North Dakota
40.40
Alaska
26.60

Best Weather by State [Updated August 2023]

Best Weather by State [Updated August 2023]

Climate preferences are highly personal. Some people prefer cold weather, some prefer hot, and some like it right in the middle. Some people prefer to have all four seasons – fall, winter, spring, and summer – and all of the weather that comes with each.

Other people would love for it to be summer all year round. If someone is looking to move to a new state, for a vacation spot, or for a location to retire, it’s helpful to know which states in the U.S. have the best weather year-round.

This type of information can be especially helpful for individuals who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression affected by the seasons, typically starting in the fall and lasting through the winter, and then going away during the spring and summer. Those looking to relocate affected by SAD will most likely want to find a home where the weather is favorable and warm all year.

The "Best" Weather

What states have the best weather? When evaluating each state for temperature, rain, and sun, some states stand out. Although climate and weather preferences are personal and subjective, some criteria are considered to make up the best weather, according to Current Results:

  • Comfortable temperatures from 63°F to 86°F for more than half of the year.
  • Dry weather with no more than 60 inches of rain per year.
  • Mostly clear skies with an average of sunshine for at least 60% of the year.

Based on these criteria, California has the best weather in all 50 states. Coastal cities in south and central California, such as San Diego, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Santa Barbara, experience only 20 inches of rain per year and temperatures typically between the low 60s and 85 degrees.

Los Angeles reports sunshine for 73% of the year. The ten states in the U.S. with the best weather are California, Hawaii, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Delaware, North Carolina, and Louisiana.

States Ranked By Weather Conditions

Because weather preferences are so personal, the following table has the most prominent weather conditions that could affect your attraction to specific states. The table includes the hottest, coldest, rainiest, snowiest, and sunniest states, as well as how many droughts, wildfires, severe storms, hurricanes, and floods have occurred in each state between the years 2007 and 2016.

Best Weather by State [Updated August 2023]

Best Weather by State [Updated August 2023]

Notes:
- The temperatures are based on data collected by weather stations throughout each state during the years 1971 to 2000 and made available by the NOAA National Climatic Data Center of the United States
- The measure of sunlight, kJ/m�, stands for kilojoules per square meter, a measure of surface energy or radiance.

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Best Weather by State [Updated August 2023]

Sources