The Coldest Day in Every State

January 30, 2019 by Mike Sauter

Source: DieterMeyrl / Getty Images
A devastating cold front, complete with extreme low temperatures, wind, and precipitation, is expected to hit much of the United States this week. The phenomenon, known popularly as a “polar vortex,” will move across the Midwest and Northeast, keeping temperatures in many places well below freezing for an extended period of time — and wind chill levels at life-threatening lows.

In parts of Minnesota, the wind chill factor could reach as low at -65°F. Chicago might break its record low for temperature excluding wind chill, -27°F, set on Jan 20, 1985. But even if temperatures fall below that level, it will likely not come close to Illinois’ all-time low temperature, a staggering -36°F set in Bloomington in 1999.

Based on records from the State Climate Extremes Committee, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the coldest temperature on record in every state. Most state record lows have lasted for decades, in some cases over a century, and as U.S. average temperatures continue to rise, record high temperatures being set are exceeding record low temperatures by a ratio of 2:1. Only two states’ record low temperatures have been set in the 21st century. The vast majority of states’ record lows have stood unbroken for well over 50 years.

In a few cases, records have been tied but remained unbroken. In Massachusetts, the record low temperature of -35°F has been recorded at weather stations within the state three times: first in 1904, then in 1943, and finally 1981. In a few states, the record low was recorded on separate days. In Wisconsin, the state’s record of -55°F was set in Stone Lake on Friday, Feb. 2, 1996, and then in the same place two days later.

To identify the coldest days in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the State Climate Extremes Committee’s (SCEC) records of extreme cold temperatures in every state, then listed the city / location closest to the weather station that recorded the extreme weather event. Data was sourced from the Nautical Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

Click here to see the coldest day in every state.

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Alabama
> Record low temperature: -27°F
> Place and time: Huntsville, 1/30/1966

[in-text-ad]

Source: Oksana_Gracheva / Getty Images

Alaska
> Record low temperature: -80°F
> Place and time: Bettles, 1/23/1971

ALSO READ: 40 Places Young People Are Moving

Source: alexeys / Getty Images

Arizona
> Record low temperature: -40°F
> Place and time: Springerville, 1/7/1971

Source: GracedByTheLight / Getty Images

Arkansas
> Record low temperature: -29°F
> Place and time: Bentonville, 2/13/1905

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Natalie Ruffing / Getty Images

California
> Record low temperature: -45°F
> Place and time: Truckee, 1/20/1937

Source: Adventure_Photo / Getty Images

Colorado
> Record low temperature: -61°F
> Place and time: Craig, 2/1/1985

[in-text-ad]

Source: danlogan / Getty Images

Connecticut
> Record low temperature: -32°F
> Place and time: Salisbury, 2/16/1943
> Place and time: Mansfield, 1/22/1961

24/7 Wall St.
Most Dangerous Countries for Women

Source: Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images

Delaware
> Record low temperature: -17°F
> Place and time: Georgetown, 1/17/1893

Source: 119886413@N05 / Flickr

Florida
> Record low temperature: -2°F
> Place and time: Tallahassee, 2/13/1899

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Marilyn Nieves / Getty Images

Georgia
> Record low temperature: -17°F
> Place and time: LaFayette, 1/27/1940

Source: dexxus / Flickr

Hawaii
> Record low temperature: 12°F
> Place and time: Hilo, 5/17/1979

[in-text-ad]

Source: CodyHaskell / Getty Images

Idaho
> Record low temperature: -60°F
> Place and time: Ashton, 1/18/1943

24/7 Wall St.
Worst States for Women

Source: 20435888@N02 / Flickr

Illinois
> Record low temperature: -36°F
> Place and time: Bloomington, 1/5/1999

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Indiana
> Record low temperature: -36°F
> Place and time: Whiteland, 1/19/1994

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: DarcyMaulsby / Getty Images

Iowa
> Record low temperature: -47°F
> Place and time: Elkader, 2/3/1996
> Place and time: Sioux City, 1/12/2019

Source: gacooksey / Getty Images

Kansas
> Record low temperature: -40°F
> Place and time: Lebanon, 2/13/1905

[in-text-ad]

Source: alexeys / Getty Images

Kentucky
> Record low temperature: -37°F
> Place and time: Shelbyville, 1/19/1994

ALSO READ: Teams With the Most Hall of Famers

Source: John-Kelly / Getty Images

Louisiana
> Record low temperature: -16°F
> Place and time: Minden, 2/13/1899

Source: pavdw / Flickr

Maine
> Record low temperature: -50°F
> Place and time: northern border, 1/16/2009

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: flownaksala / Getty Images

Maryland
> Record low temperature: -40°F
> Place and time: Oakland, 1/13/1912

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Massachusetts
> Record low temperature: -35°F
> Place and time: Taunton, 1/5/1904
> Place and time: Worcester, 2/15/1943
> Place and time: Pittsfield, 1/12/1981

[in-text-ad]

Source: ladydragonflyherworld / Flickr

Michigan
> Record low temperature: -51°F
> Place and time: Vanderbilt, 2/9/1934

ALSO READ: 25 Companies With Over 40 Consecutive Years of Dividend Hikes

Source: Cynthia Shirk / Getty Images

Minnesota
> Record low temperature: -60°F
> Place and time: Tower, 2/2/1996

Source: nataliemaynor / Flickr

Mississippi
> Record low temperature: -19°F
> Place and time: Corinth, 1/30/1966

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Shoemcfly / Getty Images

Missouri
> Record low temperature: -40°F
> Place and time: Warsaw, 2/13/1905

Source: catwendt / Flickr

Montana
> Record low temperature: -70°F
> Place and time: Fairfield, 1/20/1954

[in-text-ad]

Source: DarcyMaulsby / Getty Images

Nebraska
> Record low temperature: -47°F
> Place and time: Bridgeport, 2/12/1899
> Place and time: Oshkosh, 12/22/1989

24/7 Wall St.
Least Fashionable Cities in America

Source: NeilLockhart / Getty Images

Nevada
> Record low temperature: -50°F
> Place and time: San Jacinto, 1/8/1937

Source: johnandersonphoto / Getty Images

New Hampshire
> Record low temperature: -50°F
> Place and time: Jackson, 1/22/1885

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images

New Jersey
> Record low temperature: -34°F
> Place and time: River Vale, 1/5/1904

Source: ikewinski / Flickr

New Mexico
> Record low temperature: -50°F
> Place and time: Farmington, 2/1/1951

[in-text-ad]

Source: stefano60 / Flickr

New York
> Record low temperature: -52°F
> Place and time: Old Forge, 2/18/1979

24/7 Wall St.
Largest Industry in Each State

Source: wbritten / Getty Images

North Carolina
> Record low temperature: -34°F
> Place and time: Black Mountain, 1/21/1985

Source: Christopher Cagney / Getty Images

North Dakota
> Record low temperature: -60°F
> Place and time: Parshall, 2/15/1936

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Mshake / Getty Images

Ohio
> Record low temperature: -39°F
> Place and time: Crooksville, 2/10/1889

Source: ~UserGI15632746 / Getty Images

Oklahoma
> Record low temperature: -31°F
> Place and time: Nowata, 2/10/2011

[in-text-ad]

Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images

Oregon
> Record low temperature: -54°F
> Place and time: Ukiah, 2/9/1933
> Place and time: Seneca, 2/10/1933

24/7 Wall St.
Towns in Every State Where You May Not Get to the Hospital in Time

Source: Jakec / Wikimedia Commons

Pennsylvania
> Record low temperature: -42°F
> Place and time: Port Allegany, 1/5/1904

Source: wgmi2003 / Getty Images

Rhode Island
> Record low temperature: -28°F
> Place and time: Charlestown, 1/11/1942

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: golfbress / Getty Images

South Carolina
> Record low temperature: -19°F
> Place and time: Rosman, 1/21/1985

Source: jaypetersen / Getty Images

South Dakota
> Record low temperature: -58°F
> Place and time: McIntosh, 2/17/1936

[in-text-ad]

Source: rogertrentham / Getty Images

Tennessee
> Record low temperature: -32°F
> Place and time: Ashland, 12/30/1917

ALSO READ: The Most Commonly Spoken Foreign Language in Each State

Source: Wildnerdpix / Getty Images

Texas
> Record low temperature: -23°F
> Place and time: Tulia, 2/12/1899
> Place and time: Seminole, 2/8/1933

Source: Pureradiancephoto / Getty Images

Utah
> Record low temperature: -50°F
> Place and time: Provo, 1/5/1913

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Ron_Thomas / Getty Images

Vermont
> Record low temperature: -50°F
> Place and time: Bloomfield, 12/30/1933

Source: GDollyhite / Getty Images

Virginia
> Record low temperature: -30°F
> Place and time: Pembroke, 1/21/1985

[in-text-ad]

Source: RyanCSlimakPhoto / Getty Images

Washington
> Record low temperature: -48°F
> Place and time: Winthrop, 12/30/1968

24/7 Wall St.
Names That Are Disappearing the Fastest

Source: dszc / Getty Images

West Virginia
> Record low temperature: -37°F
> Place and time: Lewisburg, 12/30/1917

Source: AMCImages / Getty Images

Wisconsin
> Record low temperature: -55°F
> Place and time: Stone Lake, 2/4/1996
> Place and time: Stone Lake, 2/6/1996

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: KenCanning / Getty Images

Wyoming
> Record low temperature: -66°F
> Place and time: Yellowstone National Park, 2/9/1933

Posted in Special Report | Comments Off on The Coldest Day in Every State