The Coldest States in the U.S.

Here are the 10 coldest states in the United States ranked by average monthly temperature, along with the coldest temperature ever recorded for each state.

The Coldest States in the U.S. 

1) Alaska

Not much of a surprise here. The Last Frontier State of Alaska extends all the way north to the Arctic Ocean and has an average monthly temperature of just 32.13. Not much above freezing. 

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Alaska is -80 degrees on January 23, 1971 in Prospect Creek with an elevation of 1,100 above sea level. That is the second coldest confirmed temperature ever recorded in North America 1.4 degrees warmer than the -81.4 degree temperature recorded in the village of Snag in the Yukon, Canada on February 3rd of 1947. 

Alaska is the least densely populated state in the US.

2) North Dakota

Alaska was easy but would you have guessed North Dakota for #2? The Peace Garden State has an average monthly temperature of 40.43 which over 8 degrees warmer than Alaska. 

North Dakota does border on Canada in the north but it is not the 2nd most northern state in the United States. The coldest temperature ever recorded in North Dakota is -60 degrees in Parshall on February 15, 1936. Parshall has an elevation of 1,929 feet. North Dakota is the 3rd least populated state in the US.

3) Maine

The Pine Tree State rings in at #3 with an average monthly temperature of 40.97. Though Maine looks on maps like it is the most northern state of the lower 48 United States it is not as its northern most latitude is 47.46 degrees which is well below the 49th parallel that forms much of the US border with Canada. 

Nevertheless Maine is still a very cold state and the coldest temperature ever recorded in Maine is -50 degrees on January 16, 2009 on Big Black River which has an elevation of 458 feet.

4) Minnesota

The Land of 10,000 Lakes, also known as the North Star State and the Gopher State, ranks as the 4th coldest state with an average monthly temperature of 41.16. Minnesota is the northern most state of the 48 lower United States with a small portion of the state called the Northwest Angle being above the 49th parallel. 

The Northwest Angle is up on the Lake of the Woods and if you do not go there by boat you actually have to drive through Manitoba to reach it. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Minnesota is -60 degrees on February 2, 1996 in Tower, which has an elevation of 1,430 feet.

5) Wyoming

The Equality State or Cowboy State has an average monthly temperature of 41.98. Wyoming is one of two of the ten coldest U.S. states that does not border Canada. 

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Wyoming is a balmy -66 degrees on February 9, 1933 in Riverside with an altitude of 6,650 feet. Wyoming is the least populated state in the United States.

6) Montana

The Treasure State has an average monthly temperature of 42.74. Montana is the 3rd least densely populated state in the US. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Montana is -70 degrees on January 20, 1954 in Rogers Pass with an elevation of 5,470 feet.

7) Vermont

The Green Mountain State has an average monthly temperature of 42.88. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Vermont is -50 degrees on December 30, 1933 in Bloomfield with an elevation of 915 feet. Vermont is the second least populated state in the US behind only Wyoming.

8) Wisconsin

The Badger State has an average monthly temperature of 43.12. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin is -55 degrees on February 4, 1996 in Couderay with an elevation of 1,300. Guess cows don't really mind the cold.

9) New Hampshire

The Granite State has an average monthly temperature of 43.80. The coldest temperature ever recorded officially in New Hampshire is -47 degrees on top of Mount Washington on January 29, 1934. 

Mount Washington has an elevation of 6,288 feet and some of the strongest winds and wind gusts ever recorded on the planet. So the wind chill on top of the mountain in winter must be incredibly brutally cold. New Hampshire's motto is "Live Free of Die" and they could add "While You Freeze Your Tail Off".

10) Idaho

The Gem State or the Spud State has an average monthly temperature of 44.39. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Idaho is -60 degrees on January 18, 1943 at the Island Park Dam with an elevation of 6,285 feet. Almost every known gem can be found in Idaho hence its nickname.

The list is dominated by northern states that border with Canada. The list is also dominated by the lowest population states in the United States. 

Wyoming, Vermont, North Dakota and Alaska are the bottom four populated states in that order. Followed closely by Montana, New Hampshire, Maine and Idaho. Combined these eight states make up 8 out of the 12 least populated states in the United States. 

The other two states on the list Minnesota and Wisconsin both buck the trend and have populations well over 5,000,000. In general it's safe to say that people do not like the cold and will avoid living in the coldest states if they can.

Sources: http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/hottest_coldest_us_states.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wcstates.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_population