Coldest Temperatures in the United States
When the temperature drops to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (-45.6 degrees Celsius) or below in the United States, records tend to shatter. Harshly cold weather, with temperatures in the range of -50 to -70 °F rarely happens. In fact most states in the US have never gotten that cold.
In just six states, besides Alaska, have temperatures officially reached into the minus 60s Fahrenheit (below -51 °C).
These states with Alaskan-style cold are Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. Another 11 states have had temperatures drop to at least minus 50 °F.
(The minus 69 °F temperature reported in Utah, although regarded as accurate, isn't considered an official weather record. The temperature was measured at an unusual geological feature which creates exceptionally cold air. Peter's Sink is a limestone sinkhole located high in the mountains of northern Utah.)
The tables below list over 150 places that have experienced America's coldest temperatures. These are places where weather stations in the 48 contiguous states have measured temperatures of minus 50 or less.
Where the Lowest Temperatures Happen
The region of coldest temperatures extends along the continental divide and spans the northern states, crossing the country from Maine to Oregon. Most of the very lowest of temperatures in the contiguous US have happened in the mountain states of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.
Extreme cold concentrates mainly in the mountains of western Montana. The combination of high latitude with high elevation means that Montana has more weather stations reporting exceptionally low temperatures than anywhere else. Montana is also home to the lowest temperature ever documented for the contiguous US, minus 70 °F (-56.7 °C) on January 20, 1954 at Rogers Pass.
The southernmost state to reach minus 50 is New Mexico, where Gavilan, northwest of Santa Fe, achieved -50 °F on February 1, 1951. For New Mexico along with the northeastern states of Maine, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, getting down to minus 50 has been an exceedingly rare event.
When Temperatures Go Low
Even in colder states, temperatures below minus 50 happen infrequently. That kind of cold does not appear every winter.
Temperatures down to minus 50 have shown up anytime from just before Christmas in December until the end of February. The lowest temperatures, minus 60 or below, can occur between early January and mid February.
Outside of the three winter months, minus-50-degree weather is unheard of, with one odd exception. The earliest that such bitterly cold weather has struck was November 16, 1959 when it plummeted to -53 °F (-47.2 °C) in Lincoln, Montana.
| Place | °F | °C | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogers Pass, Montana | -70 | -56.7 | Jan 20, 1954 |
| Peter's Sink, Utah | -69 | -56.1 | Feb 1, 1985 |
| Riverside Ranger Station, Yellowstone, WY | -66 | -54.4 | Feb 9, 1933 |
| West Yellowstone, Montana | -66 | -54.4 | Feb 9, 1933 |
| Moran, Wyoming | -63 | -52.8 | Feb 9, 1933 |
| Darwin Ranch, Wyoming | -62 | -52.2 | Feb 10, 1981 |
| Maybell, Colorado | -61 | -51.7 | Feb 1, 1985 |
| Border, Wyoming | -60 | -51.1 | Feb 8, 1929 |
| Hebgen Dam, Montana | -60 | -51.1 | Feb 12, 1905 |
| Island Park, Idaho | -60 | -51.1 | Jan 18, 1943 |
| Maybell, Colorado | -60 | -51.1 | Jan 1, 1979 |
| Parshall, North Dakota | -60 | -51.1 | Feb 15, 1936 |
| Taylor Park, Colorado | -60 | -51.1 | Feb 1, 1951 |
| Tower, Minnesota | -60 | -51.1 | Feb 2, 1996 |
| West Yellowstone, Montana | -60 | -51.1 | Jan 12, 1963 |
| Place | °F | °C | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow, Montana | -59 | -50.6 | February 15, 1936 |
| Thoeny, Montana | -59 | -50.6 | January 20, 1954 |
| West Yellowstone, Montana | -59 | -50.6 | December 19, 1924 |
| Jordan, Montana | -58 | -50.0 | February 14, 1936 |
| McIntosh, South Dakota | -58 | -50.0 | February 17, 1936 |
| Medicine Lake, Montana | -58 | -50.0 | February 16, 1936 |
| Bondurant, Wyoming | -57 | -49.4 | February 1, 1951 |
| Camp Crook, South Dakota | -57 | -49.4 | January 12, 1916 |
| Cascade, Montana | -57 | -49.4 | February 15, 1936 |
| Chester, Montana | -57 | -49.4 | January 25, 1950 |
| Culbertson, Montana | -57 | -49.4 | February 16, 1936 |
| Embarrass, Minnesota | -57 | -49.4 | January 20, 1996 |
| Frazer, Montana | -57 | -49.4 | January 20, 1954 |
| Havre, Montana | -57 | -49.4 | January 27, 1916 |
| Wolf Point, Montana | -57 | -49.4 | January 26, 1950 |
| Browning, Montana | -56 | -48.9 | January 24, 1916 |
| Fairview, Montana | -56 | -48.9 | February 15, 1936 |
| Lake Yellowstone, Wyoming | -56 | -48.9 | February 9, 1933 |
| Malta, Montana | -56 | -48.9 | January 12, 1916 |
| Couderay, Wisconsin | -55 | -48.3 | February 2, 1996 |
| Dixon, Wyoming | -55 | -48.3 | January 12, 1963 |
| Hinsdale, Montana | -55 | -48.3 | January 25, 1969 |
| Lamar Ranger Station, Wyoming | -55 | -48.3 | January 10, 1962 |
| Sugarloaf Reservoir, Colorado | -55 | -48.3 | January 10, 1962 |
| Summit, Montana | -55 | -48.3 | January 3, 1959 |
| Trident, Montana | -55 | -48.3 | December 31, 1927 |
| Wisdom, Montana | -55 | -48.3 | December 23, 1983 |
| Antero Reservoir, Colorado | -54 | -47.8 | January 10, 1962 |
| Brainerd, Minnesota | -54 | -47.8 | February 2, 1996 |
| Echeta, Wyoming | -54 | -47.8 | December 24, 1983 |
| Hinsdale, Montana | -54 | -47.8 | January 26, 1950 |
| Ingomar, Montana | -54 | -47.8 | December 22, 1989 |
| Loma , Montana | -54 | -47.8 | January 14, 1972 |
| Popla, Montana | -54 | -47.8 | February 2, 1893 |
| Seneca, Oregon | -54 | -47.8 | February 10, 1933 |
| Stanley, Idaho | -54 | -47.8 | December 23, 1983 |
| Steamboat Springs, Colorado | -54 | -47.8 | January 7, 1913 |
| Ukiah, Oregon | -54 | -47.8 | February 9, 1933 |
| Fosston, Minnesota | -53 | -47.2 | February 1, 1996 |
| Fraser, Colorado | -53 | -47.2 | January 10, 1962 |
| Huntley, Montana | -53 | -47.2 | February 14, 1936 |
| Lincoln, Montana | -53 | -47.2 | November 16, 1959 |
| Lone Rock Tri County Airport, Wisconsin | -53 | -47.2 | January 30, 1951 |
| Moose Lake, Minnesota | -53 | -47.2 | January 15, 1972 |
| Pine River Dam, Minnesota | -53 | -47.2 | January 12, 1912 |
| Redstone, Montana | -53 | -47.2 | January 20, 1954 |
| Savage, Montana | -53 | -47.2 | February 16, 1936 |
| Tiber Dam, Montana | -53 | -47.2 | January 20, 1954 |
| Austin, Oregon | -52 | -46.7 | January 8, 1937 |
| Babb, Montana | -52 | -46.7 | January 30, 1950 |
| Baudette, Minnesota | -52 | -46.7 | February 19, 1966 |
| Big Sandy, Montana | -52 | -46.7 | February 15, 1936 |
| Boulder Rearing Station, Wyoming | -52 | -46.7 | December 22, 1990 |
| Bredette, Montana | -52 | -46.7 | January 20, 1954 |
| Busby, Montana | -52 | -46.7 | December 22, 1989 |
| Butte, Montana | -52 | -46.7 | February 9, 1933 |
| Elbowoods, North Dakota | -52 | -46.7 | January 18, 1950 |
| Fairfield, Idaho | -52 | -46.7 | December 22, 1990 |
| Farson, Wyoming | -52 | -46.7 | December 31, 1978 |
| Havre, Montana | -52 | -46.7 | January 24, 1969 |
| Itasca, Minnesota | -52 | -46.7 | February 2, 1996 |
| Kendall, Wyoming | -52 | -46.7 | January 17, 1930 |
| La Barge, Wyoming | -52 | -46.7 | December 23, 1990 |
| Lonesome Lake, Montana | -52 | -46.7 | January 24, 1969 |
| Mora, Minnesota | -52 | -46.7 | December 18, 1983 |
| Old Forge, New York | -52 | -46.7 | February 18, 1979 |
| Ovando, Montana | -52 | -46.7 | February 9, 1933 |
| Plevna, Montana | -52 | -46.7 | January 12, 1916 |
| Roseau, Minnesota | -52 | -46.7 | February 2, 1996 |
| Roundup, Montana | -52 | -46.7 | February 15, 1936 |
| Tamarac Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota | -52 | -46.7 | February 1, 1996 |
| Wright, Minnesota | -52 | -46.7 | January 15, 1972 |
| Augusta, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | January 10, 1909 |
| Babbitt, Minnesota | -51 | -46.1 | January 17, 2005 |
| Big Falls Hydro, Wisconsin | -51 | -46.1 | February 2, 1996 |
| Big Falls, Minnesota | -51 | -46.1 | January 20, 1996 |
| Crookston, Minnesota | -51 | -46.1 | February 15, 1936 |
| Eagle Airport, Colorado | -51 | -46.1 | January 12, 1963 |
| Forks, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | January 12, 1916 |
| Grand Rapids, Minnesota | -51 | -46.1 | January 26, 1927 |
| Hatfield Dam, Wisconsin | -51 | -46.1 | January 30, 1951 |
| Idaho Falls, Idaho | -51 | -46.1 | January 12, 1963 |
| Lame Deer, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | December 22, 1989 |
| Langdon, North Dakota | -51 | -46.1 | February 16, 1936 |
| Malta, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | January 24, 1969 |
| Marcell, Minnesota | -51 | -46.1 | February 3, 1996 |
| Meadowlands, Minnesota | -51 | -46.1 | January 30, 1950 |
| Minong, Wisconsin | -51 | -46.1 | January 15, 1972 |
| Opheim, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | February 28, 1962 |
| Ovando, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | January 26, 1957 |
| Park Rapids, Minnesota | -51 | -46.1 | February 2, 1996 |
| Recluse, Wyoming | -51 | -46.1 | December 24, 1983 |
| Remer, Minnesota | -51 | -46.1 | February 2, 1996 |
| Ridgeway, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | December 22, 1989 |
| Sage, Wyoming | -51 | -46.1 | January 1, 1979 |
| Sun River, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | December 29, 1968 |
| Ten Sleep, Wyoming | -51 | -46.1 | December 22, 1990 |
| Thorhult, Minnesota | -51 | -46.1 | February 1, 1996 |
| Vanderbilt, Michigan | -51 | -46.1 | February 9, 1934 |
| West Yellowstone, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | January 12, 2007 |
| Worland, Wyoming | -51 | -46.1 | January 17, 1930 |
| Yellowstone National Park, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | January 12, 1963 |
| Zortman, Montana | -51 | -46.1 | December 22, 1990 |
| Almont, North Dakota | -50 | -45.6 | December 23, 1983 |
| Baggs, Wyoming | -50 | -45.6 | January 18, 1984 |
| Ballantine, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | February 15, 1936 |
| Bemidji, Minnesota | -50 | -45.6 | January 30, 1950 |
| Big Black River, Maine | -50 | -45.6 | January 16, 2009 |
| Big Piney, Wyoming | -50 | -45.6 | December 23, 1983 |
| Bigfork, Minnesota | -50 | -45.6 | January 15, 1972 |
| Bloomfield, Vermont | -50 | -45.6 | December 30, 1933 |
| Brimson, Minnesota | -50 | -45.6 | January 31, 1996 |
| Chinook, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | January 20, 1954 |
| Choteau, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | February 15, 1936 |
| Cook, Minnesota | -50 | -45.6 | January 14, 1965 |
| Cotton, Minnesota | -50 | -45.6 | January 14, 1965 |
| Crow Agency, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | February 15, 1936 |
| Daniel Fish Hatchery, Wyoming | -50 | -45.6 | December 22, 1990 |
| Denton, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | December 24, 1983 |
| Driggs, Idaho | -50 | -45.6 | February 9, 1933 |
| Eureka Ranger Station, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | December 30, 1968 |
| Floodwood, Minnesota | -50 | -45.6 | January 20, 1996 |
| Gavilan, New Mexico | -50 | -45.6 | February 1, 1951 |
| Glendive, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | February 16, 1936 |
| Harlem , Montana | -50 | -45.6 | January 24, 1969 |
| Hibbing Airport, Minnesota | -50 | -45.6 | January 20, 1996 |
| Hysham, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | December 22, 1989 |
| Jackson, Wyoming | -50 | -45.6 | January 1, 1979 |
| Lake George, Colorado | -50 | -45.6 | January 10, 1962 |
| Lake Yellowstone, Wyoming | -50 | -45.6 | January 12, 1963 |
| Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin | -50 | -45.6 | January 30, 1951 |
| Laramie Airport, Wyoming | -50 | -45.6 | January 12, 1963 |
| Littlefork, Minnesota | -50 | -45.6 | February 2, 1996 |
| Loring , Montana | -50 | -45.6 | January 20, 1954 |
| Many Glacier, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | January 27, 1972 |
| Mildred, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | February 16, 1936 |
| Mitchell, South Dakota | -50 | -45.6 | January 25, 1955 |
| Mount Washington, New Hampshire | -50 | -45.6 | January 22, 1885 |
| Potomac, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | December 23, 1983 |
| Red Lake Falls, Minnesota | -50 | -45.6 | January 21, 1954 |
| Saco, Montana | -50 | -45.6 | January 25, 1969 |
| San Jacinto, Nevada | -50 | -45.6 | January 8, 1937 |
| Spicer, Colorado | -50 | -45.6 | February 6, 1989 |
| Strawberry Tunnel East, Utah | -50 | -45.6 | January 5, 1913 |
| Tioga, North Dakota | -50 | -45.6 | December 24, 1983 |
| Williston, North Dakota | -50 | -45.6 | December 23, 1983 |
| Worland Airport, Wyoming | -50 | -45.6 | December 21, 1990 |
Reference
National Climatic Data Center. Comparative Climatic Data.