The Coldest Day in Every State
January 30, 2019 by Mike SauterA 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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