Curious America · Weather records

Coldest day ever recorded by state

Alaska's record is -80°F, observed at Prospect Creek Camp on January 23, 1971. It is the most extreme all-time low temperature among the state records shown here.

Each state contributes a NOAA-recognized state minimum-temperature observation. These are individual historical observations, not statewide averages, seasonal norms, or a prediction of typical weather.

The three most extreme records

1. 1.Alaska: -80°F, Prospect Creek Camp — January 23, 1971.
2. 2.Montana: -70°F, Rogers Pass — January 20, 1954.
3. 3.Wyoming: -66°F, Riverside Ranger Stn. (Yellowstone NP) — February 9, 1933.

NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee reviews these state records. The map reflects the committee table reviewed by MoverMath on September 5, 2026; later reviews can revise a record.

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, State Climate Extremes Committee records.