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The coldest city in every state


ANGHI // Shutterstock

The coldest city in every state

Pedestrians in a city during a severe blizzard.

The warmer months of the year are often cherished as a time of adventure and excitement, but after a summer scientists have declared the hottest on record, many are ready to embrace the cooler weather autumn and winter typically bring. While not every state gets particularly cold—especially places with notoriously mild winters like Florida—each has a city that is typically colder than the rest.

Citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Stacker identified the coldest city in every state. The list below is based on five-year average temperatures from January 2018 to December 2022 and also includes the average daily minimum and maximum temperatures for each ranked city. Cities are ranked relative to the entire national dataset of 214 cities.

Some of these locations experience a full range of temperatures annually—from very high temperatures in the summer to nail-bitingly cold temperatures in the winter. Others simply experience cooler versions of their typically warm (or cold) weather. But whether you’re looking to hike glaciers and ski down snow-packed mountains or just to enjoy a pleasant reprieve from the heat, there is likely a city here that meets your winter needs.



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Alabama: Huntsville

Pond in Huntsville.

– #142. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 62.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 73.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 52 F



sunsinger // Shutterstock

Alaska: Utqiaġvik

Barrow, the most northern part of Alaska.

– #1. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 16.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 22 F
– Average daily minimum: 11.1 F



Tim Roberts Photography // Shutterstock

Arizona: Flagstaff

Snowy skyline of Flagstaff in December.

– #30. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 47.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 62.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 32.4 F



Graves Creative Design // Shutterstock

Arkansas: Little Rock

Little Rock Winter Skyline.

– #141. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 62.4 F
– Average daily maximum: 72.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 52.1 F



Matt Gush // Shutterstock

California: Eureka

Historic downtown Eureka.

– #76. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 59.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 45.7 F



Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

Colorado: Alamosa

Aerial view of Alamosa during winter.

– #8. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 43.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 62.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 24.5 F



Jennifer Yakey-Ault // Shutterstock

Connecticut: Hartford

Snowy Capitol building in Hartford.

– #71. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 62.4 F
– Average daily minimum: 42 F



Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock

Delaware: Wilmington

Wilmington skyline along the Christiana River.

– #110. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 56.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 65.9 F
– Average daily minimum: 47.3 F



Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

Florida: Tallahassee

Tallahassee downtown skyline.

– #177. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 69.7 F
– Average daily maximum: 80.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 58.8 F



Mark F Lotterhand // Shutterstock

Georgia: Atlanta

Aerial view of Atlanta, Georgia in winter.

– #154. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 64.9 F
– Average daily maximum: 74 F
– Average daily minimum: 55.8 F



Vanessa Belfiore // Shutterstock

Hawaii: Hilo

Aerial view of rural Hilo, Hawaii.

– #50. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 76.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 83.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 69.1 F



Kirk Fisher // Shutterstock

Idaho: Pocatello

A winter scene of a country ranch home and barn covered in snow in the mountains of North Idaho.

– #32. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 47.4 F
– Average daily maximum: 61 F
– Average daily minimum: 33.7 F



Cheri Alguire // Shutterstock

Illinois: Rockford

Main Street District sign in Rockford.

– #53. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 50.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 60.1 F
– Average daily minimum: 40.4 F



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Indiana: South Bend

South Bend buildings on a sunny day.

– #59. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 51.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 60.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 42 F



Dawid S Swierczek // Shutterstock

Iowa: Dubuque

Historical buildings in downtown Dubuque.

– #33. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 47.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 56.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 38.3 F



Kimberly’s Impressions // Shutterstock

Kansas: Goodland

A windmill in a snowy winter landscape.

– #69. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.1 F
– Average daily maximum: 66.9 F
– Average daily minimum: 37.4 F



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Kentucky: Lexington

Lexington skyline.

– #100. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 55.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 65.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 46 F



Hegearl // Shutterstock

Louisiana: Monroe

Scene after Winter Storm Uri in Northeast Louisiana.

– #164. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 66.7 F
– Average daily maximum: 77.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 56 F



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Maine: Caribou

Rural winter scene.

– #3. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 41.7 F
– Average daily maximum: 51.6 F
– Average daily minimum: 31.8 F



Jon Bilous // Shutterstock

Maryland: Baltimore

Baltimore’s Patterson Park Pagoda in the snow.

– #122. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 58.1 F
– Average daily maximum: 68.1 F
– Average daily minimum: 48.1 F



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Massachusetts: Worcester

Worcester cityscape.

– #49. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 49.9 F
– Average daily maximum: 58 F
– Average daily minimum: 41.8 F



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Michigan: Sault Ste. Marie

International bridge to Sault Ste. Marie in winter.

– #7. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 43.1 F
– Average daily maximum: 51.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 34.8 F



Bob Pool // Shutterstock

Minnesota: Rochester

Silver Lake Park and tall buildings in Downtown Rochester.

– #14. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 44.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 53.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 35.4 F



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Mississippi: Tupelo

Tupelo City Hall.

– #152. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 64.7 F
– Average daily maximum: 75.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 54.1 F



ANNVIPS // Shutterstock

Missouri: Kansas City

The skyline of Kansas City from an aerial view.

– #100. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 55.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 65.6 F
– Average daily minimum: 45.6 F



Nick Fox // Shutterstock

Montana: Kalispell

Scenic street view with shops and hotels in Kalispell.

– #8. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 43.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 55.9 F
– Average daily minimum: 31.2 F



Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

Nebraska: Scottsbluff

Aerial View of Downtown Scottsbluff, Nebraska in Winter.

– #51. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 50 F
– Average daily maximum: 65.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 34.8 F



Sandra Foyt // Shutterstock

Nevada: Ely

Route 50 in Ely with mountain range in the background.

– #24. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 46.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 63.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 29.1 F



Cory Knowlton // Shutterstock

New Hampshire: Mount Washington

Sign for the Mount Washington Summit.

– #1. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 29 F
– Average daily maximum: 35.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 22.7 F



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New Jersey: Atlantic City

Atlantic City beach in winter.

– #106. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 56.1 F
– Average daily maximum: 65.8 F
– Average daily minimum: 46.4 F



PICTOR PICTURES // Shutterstock

New Mexico: Albuquerque

A gondola on Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway.

– #125. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 58.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 71.1 F
– Average daily minimum: 45.9 F



Paul Juser // Shutterstock

New York: Binghamton

Downtown Binghamton in winter.

– #28. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 47.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 55.4 F
– Average daily minimum: 39 F



Derek Olson Photography // Shutterstock

North Carolina: Asheville

The skyline of downtown Asheville at sunset.

– #119. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 57.8 F
– Average daily maximum: 67.8 F
– Average daily minimum: 47.7 F



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North Dakota: Grand Forks

Cityscape of Grand Forks.

– #2. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 39.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 50.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 28.5 F



John Judnick // Shutterstock

Ohio: Cleveland

Heavy snow on a side street in Cleveland.

– #72. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 60.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 43.9 F



Gerson Repreza // Shutterstock

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City

Downtown Oklahoma City.

– #132. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 60.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 71.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 49 F



Bob Pool // Shutterstock

Oregon: Astoria

The Liberty Theater and downtown Astoria.

– #65. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 51.7 F
– Average daily maximum: 58.8 F
– Average daily minimum: 44.5 F



quiggyt4 // Shutterstock

Pennsylvania: Scranton

View of the Scranton Electric Building and statue of George Washington.

– #72. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 61.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 43 F



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Rhode Island: Providence

Winter skyline of Providence.

– #84. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 53.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 62.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 44.3 F



Ruoshi Cao // Getty Images

South Carolina: Columbia

A Christmas tree at night in front of the capitol building.

– #156. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 65.4 F
– Average daily maximum: 76.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 54.4 F



Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

South Dakota: Aberdeen

Aerial view of Aberdeen in winter.

– #13. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 44.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 56.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 32.5 F



Donald R Slaughter // Shutterstock

Tennessee: Johnson City

Colony Park Drive in Johnson City.

– #121. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 58 F
– Average daily maximum: 69.6 F
– Average daily minimum: 46.5 F



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Texas: Amarillo

Amarillo cityscape.

– #126. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 59 F
– Average daily maximum: 73.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 44.7 F



Abdulelah Fakhrani // Shutterstock

Utah: Cedar City

Aerial view of a street in Cedar City.

– #62. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 51.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 66.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 37 F



yegorovnick // Shutterstock

Vermont: Montpelier

Houses covered in snow in Montpelier.

– #17. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 45.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 55.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 35.5 F



Cvandyke // Shutterstock

Virginia: Washington (Dulles)

Snow blankets the grounds around pond in the Herndon-Dulles Technology Corridor.

– #114. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 57 F
– Average daily maximum: 67.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 46.7 F



Kirk Fisher // Shutterstock

Washington: Spokane

The Great Northern Clocktower and Riverfront Park with snowfall.

– #44. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 49.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 58.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 39.9 F



David Harmantas // Shutterstock

West Virginia: Elkins

Downtown Elkins.

– #78. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 64.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 41 F



Apaullo // Shutterstock

Wisconsin: Wausau

Ski resort in the winter in Wisconsin.

– #19. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 45.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 54.8 F
– Average daily minimum: 36.1 F



Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

Wyoming: Casper

Aerial view of Downtown Casper at dusk.

– #15. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 45.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 59.6 F
– Average daily minimum: 30.7 F

Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Paris Close.


Article Topic Follows: Science - Stacker

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