The United States has a variety of climates thanks to its large size spanning over different latitudes. The states experience a wide range of climates, including a tropical climate in Florida, a subarctic climate in Alaska, a semi-arid desert climate in Arizona, and an alpine climate in the mountain states. The United States experiences about 26 different Köppen climate types. If you know anything about geography, you know that the farther away from the equator an area lies, the colder it is. Countries, states, and cities that are closer to the equator have warmer climates.
In the United States, the northern states are farther from the equator and thus have colder temperatures.
The Ten Coldest U.S. States
Alaska
Alaska is the coldest state in the U.S. Alaska's average temperature is 28.1°F (-2.2°C) and can go as low as -30°F (-34°C) during the winter months. The Fairbanks area experiences some of the hottest and coldest temperatures in the state, with highs of 90°F in the summer and lows around -50°F.
North Dakota is the second-coldest state in the U.S. The average temperature in North Dakota is 41.1°F (5.1°C). In the winter, the average temperatures are around 24°F (-4.4°C), perfect for winter activities such as snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and ice hockey. The coldest month in North Dakota is January, where temperatures range from 2°F (-16.7°C) in the north and 17°F (-8.3°C) in the south.
Minnesota is the third-coldest state in the U.S. Located in the Upper Midwest region of the United States and touching Lake Superior to its northeast, the state's climate is greatly affected by its latitude and proximity to Lake Superior. January is the coldest month in Minnesota, where temperatures as low as -30°F (-34°C) can be found around the state's northern parts. The average temperature overall in Minnesota is 41.8°F (5.4°C).
Maine is the fourth-coldest state, with an average annual temperature of 41.9°F (5.5°C). Winters in Maine have an average low temperature of 12°F (-11°C) and abundant snowfall. The average accumulated snowfall in Maine is 10 to 80 inches (25-203 cm). Caribou, the northeastern-most city in the U.S., saw 157 consecutive days with at least one inch of snow on the ground in 2018.
Wyoming is the fifth-coldest state in the United States, with an average temperature of 42.3°F (5.7°C). The average minimum temperature in the winter range from 0°F to 15°F. In the winter, highlands and mountaintops in Wyoming can experience up to 200 inches of snowfall, and lowlands typically accumulate about 50 inches of snow. Additionally, winds are typically in the range of 30 to 40 mph (48-64 kph), with gusts up to 50 to 60 mph.
The sixth-coldest state in the U.S. is Montana, with an average temperature of 42.6°F (5.9°C). During Montana's coldest month, January, average temperatures are around 0°F (-17°C). The coldest temperature ever recorded in Montana was -70°F (-57°C) on January 20, 1954. The western part of Montana experiences a Pacific coastal climate with much milder winters. In comparison, the eastern part of the state experiences a semi-arid continental climate with much colder winters.
Vermont is the seventh-coldest state in the U.S. Vermont has an average temperature of 43.2°F (6.2°C). In the winter, Vermont's average temperature is 22°F (-6°C), with average lows of 2°F (-16°C). Summers are generally mild in Vermont, with temperatures ranging from 75°F to 82°F and nights dipping into the 50s. Vermont is also the snowiest state in the U.S., with annual snowfall registering around 89.25 inches.
Wisconsin ties with Idaho for the eighth-coldest state in the United States, with an average temperature of 44°F (6.7°C). Lake Superior and Lake Michigan border parts of the state, contributing to its long, snowy, and freezing winters. Wisconsin's northern and western parts can experience up to 160 inches of snowfall, and the rest of the state can expect to receive about 40 inches in a year.
Idaho
Idaho ties Wisconsin for the eighth-coldest state in the U.S., with an average temperature of 44°F (6.7°C). Idaho's average lows in the winter are between -2°F and 22°F, while Idaho Falls reaches a chilling 16°F. Snowfall in the state is also abundant, with an average of 29" (74cm) falling each year. Summers are the third coolest in the country, remaining mild with an average daily high of 75°F (24°C).
New Hampshire is the tenth-coldest state in the U.S. The average temperature in New Hampshire is 44.2°F (6.8°C). In January, the state's coldest month, temperatures range from -4°F to 15°F. The northern parts of New Hampshire are affected by strong arctic winds from Canada, causing more aggressive cold fronts. In the summer, temperatures are mild and range from 70°F to 85°F.
FAQs
Alaska is the coldest state in the U.S., with an average statewide temperature of 28.4 degrees in 2023.
What is the extreme cold in 2024? ›
The January 2024 Arctic cold blast fit into this pattern, with the polar vortex stretched so far over the U.S. in the lower stratosphere that it had nearly split in two. There are multiple causes that may have led to this stretching, but it is likely related to high-latitude weather in the prior two weeks.
What state has the worst winters? ›
Top 10 coldest states in the US
- Alaska. Get ready to layer on when you visit Alaska, which is known to be the coldest state in the US. ...
- North Dakota. North Dakota is second on the list of the coldest states in the US, with an average temperature of 41.1°F (5.1°C). ...
- Minnesota. ...
- Maine. ...
- Wyoming. ...
- Montana. ...
- Vermont. ...
- Wisconsin.
An arctic air intrusion affected much of the U.S. during the middle of January 2024, and resulted in multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures.
What's the hottest state? ›
1. Florida. Florida's hot climate can make for a punishing summer. While other states are sunnier than the Sunshine State, Florida has warmer average annual temperatures.
What is America's coldest city? ›
Fairbanks, Alaska
With a minimum average temperature of about minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit, Fairbanks takes the cake as the coldest city in the U.S. The northernmost major city in Alaska, Fairbanks has seen record cold temperatures reaching minus 66 degrees in the past.
Will 2024 be the hottest year? ›
Hausfather estimates a 66% chance that 2024 will be the hottest year on record, and a 99% chance it will be the second hottest. The current best estimate is it will come in at just above 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, he said.
Is a polar vortex coming in 2024? ›
With a stratospheric warming event expected to develop, we currently see a rapid breakdown of the Polar Vortex and a cold weather pattern change across the United States in the second half of February and possibly into early March. This is now the second disruption of the Polar Vortex in 2024.
What was the coldest year in the United States? ›
The coldest temperature in the U.S. was set in Alaska: The mercury plummeted to 80 degrees below zero on Jan. 23, 1971, in Prospect Creek in central Alaska, north of Fairbanks. The coldest temperature recorded in the contiguous U.S. is minus 70: That was measured at Rogers Pass, Montana, on Jan. 20, 1954.
What state is cold all year? ›
The coldest states in the US are Alaska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Montana, Maine, Wisconsin, Idaho, Vermont, and Michigan. Alaska is the coldest state in the US, with an average annual temperature of 30.7 F°.
Are there any states where it has never snowed? Each of the 50 states have reported snowfall at some point in their history. However, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi are states where it doesn't snow or typically see snowflakes least often.
What state is never too hot or too cold? ›
You get to keep the 70-degree weather and have snow right at your doorstep. California weather never gets too hot or too cold near the coast, either.
Why is 2024 so cold? ›
A large mass of Arctic air spilled south from Canada and lingered for several days over much of the contiguous United States in mid-January 2024. The system brought a wintry mix of bitterly cold temperatures, freezing rain, and snow that extended from the Pacific Northwest all the way to the East Coast.
How hot is the Arctic getting? ›
They typically estimate the amplification ratio to be about 2.5, meaning the Arctic is warming 2.5 times faster than the global average. Based on the observational record of surface temperatures over the last 43 years, the new study estimates the Arctic amplification rate to be about four.
How long will the polar vortex last? ›
The stratospheric polar vortex is like a whirlpool of cold swirling over the Arctic. The stronger it is, the faster it spins, and the more bottled up its frigid air remains. But in about two weeks, weather models indicate the vortex will abruptly weaken and/or collapse.
Is Alaska colder than Canada? ›
However, if we look at the absolute coldest temperatures ever recorded, then, Canada edges Alaska by a frozen nose! *Alaska's coldest recorded temperature is -80 F in Propest Creek. *Canada's coldest recorded temperature is -81.4 F in Snag, Yukon, located just 18 miles from the Alaska border.
What is the coldest place in the lower 48 states? ›
In the West, elevation makes a difference, as does being in the interior. Rogers Pass, Montana, which holds the record for coldest temperature in the Lower 48, 70 degrees below zero, rises to an elevation of 5,610 feet above sea level and is located on the Continental Divide.
What state gets the most snow? ›
Snowiest States
- Alaska. Unsurprisingly one of the coldest states in the U.S. Alaska is the snowiest state, receiving about 72.8 inches annually.
- New Hampshire. New Hampshire receives an average of 59.9 inches annually, making it the second-snowiest U.S. state. ...
- Vermont. ...
- Maine. ...
- New York. ...
- Massachusetts. ...
- Michigan. ...
- Connecticut.
Death Valley holds the record for the highest air temperature on the planet: On 10 July 1913, temperatures at the aptly named Furnace Creek area in the California desert reached a blistering 56.7°C (134.1°F). Average summer temperatures, meanwhile, often rise above 45°C (113°F).
