When you imagine a perfect Christmas day, you envision smoke coming out of chimneys, rooftops covered in snow, families wearing scarves, jackets, and long boots gathering to celebrate the most anticipated festivity of the year. This picture is accurate in many parts of the US, where the weather is chilling cold during the holiday season.
But in some parts of America, winters mean unbearably cold temperatures. The latitude of cities such as Atqasuk, Dubois, and Alma is not the only factor responsible for making them some of the coldest in the country. Some other factors like wind patterns, landscapes, and nearby bodies of water also play a vital role in the falling temperatures in these areas.
The range of cold temperatures during the winter months vary significantly across the United States, especially between the southern and northern regions of the country. While many cities experience cold temperatures in November, December and January, some cities experience record-breaking temperatures in the negatives during their coldest months. Many times, these temperatures last for more than just a few months.
This kind of extreme weather can have negative impacts on the livelihoods of local people and communities. Some of the challenges they may face include prolonged road closures, delayed public transportation, potential accidents, power outages, and property damage. Cold temperatures can also lead to an onslaught of health conditions such as respiratory and breathing problems, pneumonia, and hypothermia. In severe conditions, extreme cold can even take lives.
The Coldest Cities in the United States
Curious to see which cities and states top the list of the coldest in the country? Here they are. But before we get started, a quick precursor- most of the coldest cities in the US over the last decade are in the state of Alaska, so we haven’t focused on the top ten cities per say. Instead, we rounded up a list of other cities in different states that are among the coldest outside of just Alaska. But by far, the coldest state is Alaska. The average cumulative temperature of coldest cities in this state is a bone chilling 27 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now, here is a list of some of the coldest cities in the US and their average temperature:
1. Atqasuk, AK (Alaska) – 16.4 degrees F
2. Arctic Village, AK (Alaska)- 22.28 degrees F
3. Fairbanks, AK (Alaska) – 26.42 degrees F
4. Dubois WY (Wyoming)- 32.24 degrees F
5. Alma, CO (Colorado) 33.29 degrees F
6. Wyola, MT (Montana) 34.16 degrees F
7. Dayton, WY (Wyoming) 34.16 degrees F
8. Lodge Grass, MT (Montana) 34.16 degrees F
9. Duluth, MN (Minnesota) 35.01 degrees F
10. Ohio City, CO (Colorado) 35.06 degrees F
For the full list, you can access more information here.
So, what are the coldest cities in some of the coldest states in the US? In 2021, they were in North Dakota, Alaska, Minnesota, and South Dakota.
Ocean currents heavily impact the climate of cities located on the Alaskan Coast; however, the climate in Fairbanks is more influenced by wind patterns. Cold air enters the state’s interior from Siberia and northern Canada in the winter months. This results in unbearably cold temperatures. Another critical factor contributing to Fairbanks’ frigid cold is the lack of sunlight during specific months. The city only gets four to ten hours of weak sunlight each day from November to March. This, paired with the cold winds, significantly lowers the region’s temperature, leading to temperatures that reach well below freezing point.
The city of Barrow is located on the farthest northern corner of Alaska. It experiences temperature drops to -14 degrees F during the winter months. This temperature is a bit higher than the temperature in Fairbanks. The average cold temperature of this city is -3 degrees F in winters, while the average recorded temperature in the month of January is -8 degrees F.

However, in Aberdeen and Huron, the temperature variance is low and generally stays very cold. During the winter months, the temperature in Huron falls to -14 degrees C/6.6 degrees F in winter, while the temperature in Aberdeen can drop to -16 degrees C/ 1.5 degrees F.
Living in the coldest cities in the country means experiencing bone chilling temperatures and having precautionary measures in place to deal with its impacts. But this frosty weather may not be for everyone. Some people enjoy warm weather and the four seasons in all its glory. One thing’s for sure- if you’re looking for an adventure into one of the coldest regions of the country, Alaska should be at the top of your destination list!
This data was populated using our easy to download, historical weather data spreadsheets. To access average historical temperature data sets by zip code, click here.
