Best places for snowbirds to retire-Emily Brandon US News

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If you're serious about avoiding winter in retirement, you're probably dreaming of moving to a Sunbelt state. Although summers can be very hot, you aren't likely to need a winter coat or boots in these sunny retirement spots. These cities were the hottest in the U.S. in 2014, according to the National Climatic Data Center.

Key West, Florida
Key West, an island at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys, is the hottest place in the mainland U.S. It had an average temperature of 78.6 degrees in 2014, which is slightly above its 30-year average of 77.8 degrees.
Miami
Miami is the warmest major metropolitan area. The weather averaged 77.5 degrees in 2014, a temperature that has remained consistent for the past three decades. But sea breezes from the nearby Atlantic Ocean sometimes temper the heat.
Phoenix

Phoenix is the hottest city in Arizona, averaging 77.2 degrees, which is even warmer than its 30-year average of 75.1 degrees. Phoenix is among the driest places in the country, averaging just eight inches of precipitation per year, and it's also one of the sunniest, with an 85 percent chance of sunshine.

Fort Myers, Florida

Located along the Caloosahatchee River and near the Gulf of Mexico, this southwest Florida city has warm winters and hot summers. Its 2014 temperature averaged 75.2 degrees, the same as the 30-year average.

Brownsville, Texas

Located on the southernmost tip of the state, Brownsville is the hottest city in Texas and had an average 2014 temperature of 73.9 degrees. Close to both the Rio Grande and Gulf of Mexico, the city is also known for its humidity, which averages 78 percent.

Orlando, Florida

The home of Walt Disney World and the University of Central Florida had an average temperature of 73.2 degrees in 2014. These pleasant temperatures have remained relatively constant over the past 30 years.

Tampa, Florida
Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida, along the Tampa Bay and near the Gulf of Mexico. Tampa had an average temperature of 72.9 degrees in 2014. Summers can be humid and thunderstorms are frequent.
Corpus Christi, Texas
Located along the Corpus Christi Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi is known for its high temperatures, averaging 72.2 degrees. The high humidity averages 78.5 percent.
Tucson, Arizona

In Tucson, you get hot weather (averaging 72.2 degrees) without the humidity, which averages only 38.5 percent and is among the lowest in the country. Tucson is also one of the sunniest places in the U.S., with the sun shining down on the city 85 percent of the time.

Las Vegas

The weather in Las Vegas is hot (averaging 72.1 degrees) and dry, averaging just 4.49 inches of participation each year, the second-lowest of any city in the country. The sun is shining 85 percent of the time, and humidity is among the lowest of anywhere in the U.S.

Hawaii and Puerto Rico

If you're willing to venture outside of the mainland U.S., there are plenty of other sunny cities. Among the warmest in the U.S. are the Hawaiian cities of Honolulu (78.2 degrees), Kahului (77 degrees), Lihue (75.8 degrees) and Hilo (74.8 degrees). But San Juan, Puerto Rico is even hotter, averaging 82 degrees.

Culled from US news