By Jeffrey Meehan, Reno Gazette Journal
Reno is warming faster than any major U.S. city, according to a new analysis of long-term temperature trends.
The city’s average annual temperature has risen about 7.9 degrees since 1970, the highest increase among 242 cities studied by Climate Central using federal temperature records from 1970 to 2025.
It’s not the first time Reno has topped the list. The city has ranked No. 1 in consecutive analyses since 2022.
Nearly every major U.S. city has warmed over that time, but Reno’s increase is the largest recorded among those analyzed.
Other cities in the West, including Las Vegas, have also ranked near the top in recent analyses.
What are the top 5 fastest-warming US cities, according to Climate Central?
- Reno: +7.9
- Las Vegas: +6.0
- El Paso, Texas: +5.9
- Burlington, Vermont: +5.3
- Tyler, Texas: +5.3
What it means for US cities
Nearly every major U.S. city has warmed since 1970, with 99% of those analyzed showing increases.
On average, cities have warmed about 2.9 degrees. Reno’s increase is more than twice that.
The warming is tied to a steady rise in heat-trapping greenhouse gases, largely from burning fossil fuels for energy, transportation and buildings, according to Climate Central.
Those gases trap heat in the atmosphere, pushing temperatures higher and increasing the risk of more extreme weather. The trend is expected to continue unless emissions are reduced.
How did Climate Central analyze the data?
The analysis used temperature data from 247 U.S. weather stations from 1970 to 2025, based on records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Results were reported for 242 cities due to data limitations.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
