United States Weather

Weather in the United States at a glance

The united states offers 10 distinct climate types, from humid subtropical to subarctic among its 181 covered cities. Year-round, Key West posts the highest average temperature (78°F (26°C)) and Fairbanks the lowest (31°F (0°C)), so the right base depends as much on climate as on itinerary.

Quick facts

• Warmest city: Key West - annual average 78°
• Coolest city: Fairbanks - annual average 31°
• Sunniest city: Palm Springs (11.3 h sun/day)
• Best time to visit: April to May
• Climate types: humid subtropical, semi-arid, humid continental, Mediterranean, oceanic, hot desert, tropical rainforest, tropical wet-and-dry, cold desert, subarctic

The bigger picture

For sunshine, Palm Springs leads with about 11.3 hours of sun per day on average. Juneau is the wettest of the covered cities, collecting roughly 3268 mm (128.7 inches) of precipitation a year, and Juneau sees the most snow, around 98 snowy days annually. Averaged across the country's covered cities, April to May brings the most comfortable mix of temperature, dry days and daylight.