From Ukraine to Gaza
On January 30, 1966, Alabama’s record-low temperature of -27°F (-32.8°C) was documented by Lucille Hereford in New Market, earning this tiny town a frosty legacy in the state.
Alaska’s staggering record of -80°F (-62.2°C) was recorded at Prospect Creek Camp on January 23, 1971. While there have been unofficial whispers of colder temperatures, this icy record truly cements Alaska as America’s frozen frontier.
On January 7, 1971, Hawley Lake experienced a bone-chilling -40°F (-40°C). The lake was certainly no stranger to extreme colds, having already broken the state record for 91 inches (231 cm) of snow in 1968.
February 13, 1905, saw Brook Farm Pond near the city of Gravette hit -29°F (-33.9°C). Known as a “gateway” to the region, this quiet corner of Arkansas proved the state can hold its own in winter’s icy grip.
On January 20, 1937, the former settlement of Boca recorded -45°F (-42.8°C), bringing frozen pipes, icy roads, and influenza to the Golden State. It seems that even sunshine-heavy California isn’t spared winter’s chill.
February 1, 1985, marked Colorado’s record low of -61°F (-51.7°C) in Maybell, a tiny town that is home to a mere 76 people. It just goes to show that even amid breathtaking mountains, the cold can still steal the spotlight.
January 22, 1961, was the day on which Coventry’s cold record of -32°F (-35.6°C) was set. The town’s frosty accolade wasn’t the first in the state, as it matched Falls Village’s 1943 record.
On January 17, 1893, Millsboro was hit by temperatures of -17°F (-27.2°C), becoming Delaware’s coldest spot. Interestingly, this same town later sizzled to 110°F (43.3°C) in 1930, a record-breaking feat of climate extremes.
The Floridian city of Tallahassee recorded its coldest temperature of -2°F (-18.9°C) on February 13, 1899, during a snowy, unprecedented winter storm that was fittingly dubbed "The Snow King."
Mauna Kea Observatory hit a low temperature of 12°F (-11.1°C) on May 17, 1979, a stark contrast to Hawaii’s tropical image. Unverified claims have suggested that the state’s temperature may have reached lower, but these remain speculative.
The lowest recorded temperature in Idaho was an astounding -60°F (-51.1°C) on January 18, 1943. The record was set in the state’s Targhee National Forest, and it holds the title as the eighth coldest temperature recorded in the United States.
On January 31, 2019, Mount Carroll validated a record -38°F (-38.9°C) after thorough reviews. The weather reminded Illinois residents that the Midwest’s winters are no joke.
Indiana’s record low of -36°F (-37.8°C) struck on January 19, 1994. For residents, layering up and putting newspapers in shoes became the mantra against the deep freeze.
Iowa set its lowest temperature at -47°F (-43.9°C) on February 3, 1996, during the infamous "1996 Cold Wave" that swept across the Great Midwest and left many states in awe of winter extremes.
February 13, 1905, brought Kansas’ coldest day, at -40°F (-40°C) in the city of Lebanon. The storm’s bitter winds were so fierce that locals couldn’t face the outdoors.
On January 19, 1994, Shelbyville froze at -37°F (-38.3°C), a day that meteorologists and residents alike recall for its unparalleled cold, empty grocery shelves, and a surreal week of disruptions.
Louisiana’s record of -16°F (-26.7°C) in Minden on February 13, 1899, occurred during a two-week-long nationwide Arctic Outbreak dubbed "the greatest in history," which froze even the Deep South.
After scientists scrutinized data for a month, they declared that Maine had reached a frigid -50°F (-45.6°C) on January 16, 2009. This record highlighted the state’s icy resilience as it cemented its place among America’s coldest.
The residents of the town of Oakland saw a -40°F (-40°C) low on January 13, 1912. The town later became a tourist spot when a famous rail line was built through it by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
On January 12, 1981, the town of Chester was hit with -35°F (-37.2°C) temperatures, tying with earlier records from Coldbrook and Taunton. It seems that Massachusetts has a reputation for chillingly cold weather.
Michigan set a record of -51°F (-46.1°C) on February 9, 1934. There are only 11 states with colder recorded temperatures, and Michigan has surely secured its frosty reputation among the northern states.
The lowest temperature in Minnesota was recorded in Tower on February 2, 1996, during the "Cold Wave." Temperatures reached -60°F (-51.1°C), a vast difference from the average low of 4°F (-15.6°C) that the state usually experiences.
Mississippi recorded -19°F (-28.3°C) in Corinth on January 30, 1966, a frosty divergence from its highest recorded temperature of 115°F (46.1°C), which was recorded in July of 1930.
Not only does the city of Warsaw uniquely claim Missouri’s coldest temperature at -40°F (-40°C), it also claims the state’s hottest at 118°F (47.8°C). The coldest temperature was recorded on February 13, 1905.
On January 20, 1954, Rogers Pass in Montana plunged to -70°F (-56.7°C), which marked the coldest day ever observed in the contiguous US. The only other state to have beaten this record is Alaska.
December 22, 1989, brought Nebraska’s record low of -47°F (-43.9°C), a legacy that is tied to the "Christmas Snowstorm of 1989" that swept across the southeast US coast and left behind a blanket of snow and ice.
On January 8, 1937, the Nevadan town of San Jacinto recorded the state’s lowest temperature of -50°F (-45.6°C), decades before Laughlin set the state’s sizzling high of 125°F (51.7°C).
Mount Washington’s -50°F (-45.6°C) on January 22, 1885, cemented its legacy.
River Vale township set New Jersey’s cold record of -34°F (-36.7°C) on January 5, 1904, aided by snow cover, an icy pond, and a stark treeless landscape.
On February 1, 1951, Gavilan plunged to -50°F (-45.6°C), which marked New Mexico’s coldest day in history. In June 27, 1994, the state’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Loving recorded a fiery high of 122°F (50°C).
Old Forge hamlet claimed New York’s record of -52°F (-46.7°C) on February 18, 1979. Residents reported their milk freezing on the way home from the store, and even windows shattered.
On January 21, 1985, Mount Mitchell’s temperatures of -34°F (-36.7°C) were the height of the brutal "Arctic Outbreak," which resulted in at least 165 fatalities nationwide.
Ohio was another state impacted by the "Arctic Outbreak" in 1899. The state set its record of -39°F (-39.4°C) on February 10, 1899, in the small community of Milligan.
The city of Nowata set Oklahoma’s record low of -31°F (-35°C) on February 10, 2011, during a snow-filled year that also broke state snowfall records.
In February 1933, the two cities of Ukiah and Seneca were both consumed by temperatures that dropped to -54°F (-47.8°C). This event earned the cities the nickname "Oregon's Icebox."
On January 21, 1985, Caesar’s Head mountain plunged to -19°F (-28.3°C). During that year, the Carolinas dubbed the low temperatures as “The Coldest Day.”
The small town of McIntosh, which is home to just 110 people, managed to secure the state’s record when it was hit by -58°F (-50°C) temperatures on February 17, 1936.
Mountain City in Tennessee recorded -32°F (-35.6°C) on December 30, 1917, solidifying the state’s claim to winter extremes, which contrasts especially against its later summer heat records.
Texas saw its lowest temperature of -23°F (-30.6°C) on February 8, 1933, and the same temperature was recorded on February 12, 1899, almost 34 years earlier.
On February 1, 1985, a sinkhole in Utah known as Peter Sinks reached -69°F (-56.1°C), while northern Utah’s Lake Powell saw the opposite with a 120°F (48.9°C) record decades later.
Bloomfield, a town in Essex county with a population of 218, recorded -50°F (-45.6°C) on December 30, 1933, earning its place as Vermont’s frostiest town while maintaining a quiet, rural charm.
Virginia’s -30°F (-34.4°C) record occurred at Mountain Lake Biological Station on January 21, 1985.
The community of Mazama and the town of Winthrop both hit -48°F (-44.4°C) on December 30, 1968, which is considerably lower than Washington’s later fiery high of 120°F (48.9°C) in 2021.
The village of Couderay in Wisconsin recorded -55°F (-48.3°C) on February 4, 1996. This is the ninth-coldest temperature recorded in all of US history.
Yellowstone’s Riverside Ranger Station hit -66°F (-54.4°C) on February 9, 1933. Since Yellowstone lies at an elevation of 6,000 feet (1,829 meters), this record soundly reflects the park’s famously unpredictable, high-altitude winters.
Sources: (Business Insider) (The Weather Channel) (Britannica)
In the state of Georgia, CCC Fire Camp F-16 near Beatum recorded a temperature of -17°F (-27.2°C) on January 27, 1940. Georgia’s climate often swings between historic frosts and blazing highs.
In North Dakota, the city of Parshall hit a low of -60°F (-51.1°C) on February 15, 1936. Shockingly, the state recorded its blistering high of 121°F (49.4°C) that same year.
The Pennsylvanian borough of Smethport hit -42°F (-41.1°C) on January 5, 1904, which was a stark contrast to Phoenixville’s 111°F (43.9°C) highs recorded across two consecutive days a mere 32 years later.
Wood River Junction in Rhode Island reached -28°F (-33.3°C) on January 11, 1942, which marked the state’s chilliest moment despite normally experiencing relatively mild winters.
On December 30, 1917, Lewisburg’s temperatures dropped to -37°F (-38.3°C), marking West Virginia’s lowest temperature during a year of extraordinary cold.
The United States is a land of incredible diversity—not just in its people, landscapes, and cultures, but in its climate as well. From the bone-chilling Arctic air of Alaska, to the icy surprises in subtropical states like Florida and Louisiana, each state holds its own story of how extreme cold has shaped its history. Across the nation, record low temperatures have been set in small towns and remote weather stations, with a unique glimpse into the frozen moments that stand as milestones in America’s meteorological past.
Some of the lowest natural temperatures on the planet have been recorded in the 50-state nation, and whether it’s a small mountain town or a bustling valley, each state has its own frosty tale to tell. Curious? Click through this gallery to discover the lowest thermometer readings in the country.
The coldest temperature recorded in every US state
Winter can truly be devastatingly cold
LIFESTYLE Weather
The United States is a land of incredible diversity—not just in its people, landscapes, and cultures, but in its climate as well. From the bone-chilling Arctic air of Alaska, to the icy surprises in subtropical states like Florida and Louisiana, each state holds its own story of how extreme cold has shaped its history. Across the nation, record low temperatures have been set in small towns and remote weather stations, with a unique glimpse into the frozen moments that stand as milestones in America’s meteorological past.
Some of the lowest natural temperatures on the planet have been recorded in the 50-state nation, and whether it’s a small mountain town or a bustling valley, each state has its own frosty tale to tell. Curious? Click through this gallery to discover the lowest thermometer readings in the country.