Top 10 Coldest Cities In The United States
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| Coldest cities in the U.S. Photo: KnowInsiders |
The onset of winter in the United States inevitably means cold weather, or at least cooler weather. For some Americans, winter can bring record-breaking cold temperatures. This is particularly true for Americans who live in the country’s coldest cities, which are all located in the northern US. But as we will see, latitude is not the only factor that makes cities like Fairbanks, Alaska and Grand Forks, North Dakota the coldest in the U.S.
Other factors, like the currents of nearby bodies of water, wind patterns, and landscapes can also contribute to cold temperatures.
The List of Top 10 Coldest Cities In The United States
| Rank | City | State | Minimum Average Temperature | Lowest Recorded Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks | Alaska | -16.9 °F | -66 °F |
| 2 | Grand Forks | North Dakota | -3.1 °F | -43 °F |
| 3 | Williston | North Dakota | 0.1 °F | -50 °F |
| 3 | Fargo | North Dakota | 0.1 °F | -39 °F |
| 5 | Duluth | Minnesota | 1.5 °F | -39 °F |
| 5 | Aberdeen | South Dakota | 1.5 °F | -46 °F |
| 7 | St. Cloud | Minnesota | 1.8 °F | -43 °F |
| 8 | Bismarck | North Dakota | 2.2 °F | -44 °F |
| 9 | Marquette | Michigan | 5.2 °F | -34 °F |
| 10 | Huron | South Dakota | 6.6 °F | -43 °F |
What Are The Coldest Cities In The United States?
1. Fairbanks, Alaska
It should come as no surprise that some of America’s coldest cities are located in its northernmost state, Alaska. In Fairbanks, the average low temperature was a nose hair–freezing -16°F (January), with an average high of 3°F. Thanks to some super-cold days and nights, the average temperature in January was only -7°F. For those interested in records, the lowest temperature on record is -66°F.
2. Grand Forks, North Dakota
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| Photo: LOLWOT |
Less than 100 miles north of Fargo lies Grand Forks, ND, which takes fourth place on our list this year. The average low in January was -8°F and the average high was 12°F, while the overall average was a chilly 2°F. Grand Forks’ lowest temperature on record is -43°F.
3. Williston, North Dakota
Huron is known for its cold dry winters and wide temperature extremes. It also falls under the USDA hardiness zone. The lack of mountains and trees roughly translates to harsher winters as cold winds directly come down from Canada and there is nothing to block their path. Not only this, the minimum average temperature can drop to almost -14 C in the winters.
4. Fargo, North Dakota
Less than 100 miles north of Fargo lies Grand Forks, ND, which takes fourth place on our list this year. The average low in January was -8°F and the average high was 12°F, while the overall average was a chilly 2°F. Grand Forks’ lowest temperature on record is -43°F.
5. Duluth, Minnesota
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| Photo: Expedia |
Located on the north shore of Lake Superior, Duluth is the starting point for vehicle trips touring the North shore of Lake superior leading to Ontario, Canada. With a humid continental climate, this city experiences long, snowy winters leading to consistent snow cover from late November to late March. It is also had been hailed as the ‘air-conditioned city’ due to Lake Superior’s cooling effect even in the summers. The lowest temperature recorded for this city is -39 F.
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6. Aberdeen, South Dakota
Located in Brown County, the city falls under the USDA Plant Hardiness zone, evidencing its harsh weather. With the minimum average temperature falling to -16C in the winters, the city experiences long cold winners due to its geographical position. The absence of mountains and trees makes it easier for the cold winds coming from Canada to flow easily as they face no blockage.
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7. St. Cloud, Minnesota
Minnesota, the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," is home to the cities of Duluth and St. Cloud, the 5th and 7th coldest cities in the US, respectively. Like North and South Dakota, Minnesota has a continental climate, which usually results in very cold winters and hot summers. Unlike North and South Dakota, however, Minnesota borders one of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior. Lake Superior has the effect of moderating temperatures in Minnesota, especially northern Minnesota, where winters are cold and long-lasting, and frost can occur even in the summer.
8. Bismarck, North Dakota
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| This map shows when the coldest day of the year is the U.S. Photo: The OCR |
Located in Burleigh County, the city of Bismarck is located in the coldest state in the continental US during winter and fall: North Dakota. The reason North Dakota experiences such harsh winters is because of its location at the extreme north end of the Midwest.
9. Marquette, Michigan
Located on the shores of Lake Superior, this city is also in the USDA Plant hardiness zone. With long cold winters, the lowest temperature recorded in the city is -34F, and experiences an abundance of snow every year making life a little difficult as evidenced by its population of only 21,697.
10. Huron, South Dakota
Huron is known for its cold dry winters and wide temperature extremes. It also falls under the USDA hardiness zone.
The lack of mountains and trees roughly translates to harsher winters as cold winds directly come down from Canada and there is nothing to block their path. Not only this, the minimum average temperature can drop to almost -14 C in the winters.
| Winter temperatures in the United States vary greatly between the northern and southern halves of the country. In many parts of the US, however, temperatures drop below freezing (0°C/ 32°F) during the winter months. |
Some cities have recently been experiencing record-breaking temperatures. Chicago, for example, experienced its coldest temperature in 34 years on January 30, 2019, of -23°F. Wind chills reached anywhere from -30°F to -50°F. Chicago, however, is not one of the coldest cities in the United States on average.
Most of the extreme winter weather conditions are experienced in December and January. Extreme winter weather can have several negative effects on communities, including shutting down roads, causing accidents, and preventing the operation of public transportation. Additionally, extreme winter weather leads to power outages, fallen trees and, in severe cases, structures, and can lead to hypothermia and trouble breathing. Unfortunately, extreme winter conditions and winter storms have led to the deaths of many.
Some cities are better equipped to handle winter conditions than others. Northern cities typically have snowplows, supplies of ice-melting salt, and other precautionary means to deal with extreme winter weather. Southern cities, however, have more subtropical climates the usually lack such supplies and smaller amounts of snow have the potential to send these areas into a state of emergency. For example, Atlanta, Georgia experienced three inches of snowfall in 2014 that stranded students in school and brought traffic to a complete standstill.
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