Life

The Hottest Day To Date This Summer Is Coming Up

by Laken Howard

June 21, 2016

Is there any time of year that's better than summer? Sure, the heat can cause your makeup to sweat off instantly, but it also gives you an ironclad excuse to eat ice cream every single day. Fall is my favorite season, but by the time summer rolls around, I am reminded of how fun it is: outdoor brunch opportunities, cute sundresses, and the thrill of meeting a new beau. And what's more fun than a good old-fashioned summer romance or fling?

A new study from Match found that summer is by far the best time of year to jump into the online dating game; perhaps because everyone is looking for a beach buddy, activity on dating sites increases in the sticky summer months. In particular, Match discerned that June 27 — less than a week away — is the hottest day to date this summer, because it's the busiest day for online dating.

According to Match’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr. Helen Fisher, we have the blazing summer sun to thank. “Sunlight gives people energy," Fisher said in a press release. "This is because the pineal gland in the brain produces melatonin in the dark of winter, making people more sluggish and sleepy. But as the spring and then summer light increases, the pineal gland reduces its production of melatonin and begins to orchestrate the breeding/mating season in many species. It has a direct connection with the retina to pick up changes in the light, and also connects with the pituitary (to trigger gonadal/sexual development in many species) and the genitals. We humans don’t have a mating season; we breed all year long. But increasing light does give us a sunny personality and more energy and optimism — all of which could increase our sexuality.”

So there you have it: summer is the perfect time to go out and experiment with online dating. And if you're a resident of one of 10 lucky U.S. cities, you might have even more success. Relative to the average of the three other seasons, these 10 cities communicate the most on Match during the summer months. So without further ado, here are America's flirtiest cities in the summertime.

10. Tucson, AZ

9. Manchester, NH

8. Jacksonville, FL

7. Santa Rosa, CA

6. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

5. Hartford, CT

4. Springfield, MA

3. Raleigh, NC

2. Stockton, CA

1. Winston-Salem, NC

Images: Fotolia; Giphy (10)