The 10 Coldest Places in Oklahoma Will Chill You to Your Core

10. Hammon – 44.6 Degrees

Hammon is one of Oklahoma’s top 10 coldest places, with an average minimum temperature of 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit. From 23 to 52 degrees in the winter, Hammon usually gets at least 6 inches of snow annually. This town is a part of two different counties (Roger Mills County and Custer County) at the Oklahoma State Highways 33 and 34 junction. Named after agent James H. Hammon of the Red Moon Agency, Hammon’s population at the 2020 US Census only included 479 people.

9. Arnett – 43.9 Degrees

Located in Ellis County, Arnett had 495 at the last census. With its humid subtropical environment, winters tend to be cold and dry, with January usually maintaining the lowest temperatures. During the winter, temperatures usually range from 23.7 to 48.7 degrees. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Arnett was −12 degrees Fahrenheit in 1959.

This town was established in 1902 and was named for the postmaster’s minister in West Virginia. The most recent census showed a total population of 495 residents.

8. Turpin – 43.1 Degrees

Turpin is one of the coldest places in Oklahoma, with an average annual low temperature of 43.1 degrees Fahrenheit. It ranges from 21.9 to 52.3 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, rising by about 20 degrees in the spring and autumn. This unincorporated community is part of Beaver County, with 442 residents as of the last census. Much of the activity in this community centers around their public school district, featuring a much larger student population than the more populated cities nearby. It features the Turpin Grain Elevators, part of the National Register of Historic Places.

7. Guymon – 43 Degrees

The next city on this list is Guymon, which has one of the highest populations for the coldest places in Oklahoma. At the 2020 US Census, the city recorded 12,965 people, making up over half of the population in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Much of the local economy includes pork farms, cattle feedlots, and natural gas, making the cold weather part of the annual planning of these businesses.

During the winter, some nights reach temperatures as low as 23 degrees Fahrenheit. However, locals won’t see temperatures rise past 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime until the winter ends. The average winter temperature is just 4 degrees above freezing, even though going without snow all year is common. Guymon gets snow in only a few cold months during the year, averaging 2 inches for the season.

6. Hooker – 43 Degrees

In Hooker, the average annual low temperature is 43 degrees Fahrenheit, ranging from 22.2-50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. By the spring, the lowest temperature rises to the 40s, repeating in the fall. Hooker had 1,802 residents in the 2020 census with a median age of 36 years old. It is part of Texas County, which is Oklahoma’s second-largest county. Hooker’s average snowfall is about 11 inches each winter, with about half as much snow in the spring. It was named for a cattle foreman who visited the area over 150 years ago.

Situated along US Highway 54, this rural town offers access to a tennis court, community center, golf course, and a municipal airport.

5. Freedom – 43 Degrees

The town of Freedom is the home of 174 people, according to the 2020 US Census, though its first recorded population was 251 in 1925. While the town gets at least 5 inches of snow during winter, temperatures stay low from 20.9 to 50.5 degrees Fahrenheit. These low temperatures sometimes stick around until the summer, staying in the low 40s until warmer seasons come.

You must drive along the Cimarron River to access it as part of Woods County. Much of the area has included farmers and ranchers since the end of the 19th century. With the construction of the Buffalo and Northwestern Railroad, many homesteaders settled in. The city’s name comes from the local post office in 1901, despite the lack of incorporation until 1925.

4. Beaver – 41.8 Degrees

With a record low of 23 degrees Fahrenheit, Beaver is the next Oklahoma location on this list. This small town usually has a cool and dry winter, though they record 10+ inches of snow yearly. Even though it is not the snowiest place in the state, it made history in the winter that spanned from 1911 to 1912 with 87.3 inches of snow. According to the last census, Beaver is only home to 1,280 people, though it was only 112 at the start of the 20th century, primarily dedicated to cattle ranches.

Winter temperatures are usually 20.4 – 49.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Only two-thirds of the snow falls in winter, with the rest falling in early spring. Sometimes, the town has seen snow as early as the start of autumn. The town is right near Beaver River, and it was originally called Beaver City as part of the intended Cimarron Territory in the 19th century. By 1890, it joined Oklahoma Territory, becoming the Oklahoma Panhandle’s county seat. During the Great Depression, Beaver was one of the few cities that saw an increase in population with fewer economic hardships than the rest of the Panhandle.

3. Goodwell – 41.2 Degrees

Goodwell is the next coldest place in Oklahoma on this list, though it doesn’t receive nearly the amount of snow in Boise City. With 951 residents in the 2020 Census, Goodwell is primarily known as the home of Oklahoma Panhandle State University, though it has also played a necessary role in the country’s railway system. While the entire city only covers 1.2 square miles, Goodwell’s original purpose was to be one of the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad switches established in 1901.

WorldClimate.com shows that Goodwell only gets 2.7 inches of snow annually with the cold, semi-arid climate. The coldest day ever experienced by the town was on January 4, 1959, when thermometers recorded a temperature of -22 degrees Fahrenheit. Usually, the minimum temperature of Goodwell is 21.2 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, rising to no more than 49.8 degrees Fahrenheit. The summers are drastically warmer, sometimes reaching 112 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Boise City – 40.4 Degrees

Even though Kenton is the coldest place in Oklahoma, Boise City follows closely behind as the snowiest place in the state. Typically, temperatures go as low as 21.6 degrees Fahrenheit in the worst of the winter, with an average of 37.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Boise City averages almost 12 inches of snow in the winter, though the cold weather continues into the spring with an additional 10+ inches in snowfall. The record low temperature for the city is 24 degrees Fahrenheit.

During the 2020 Census, Boise City recorded 1,166 residents. During the winters, the weather stays fairly dry with the semi-arid climate. Most precipitation happens during the summer months.

1. Kenton – 40.3 Degrees

In Cimarron County, Kenton is slightly south of the state’s highest point. It was the state’s primary county seat, but that position moved to Boise City in 1908. The city is quite small now, with less than 3 dozen people in the last US Census. When the city flourished, it had just two general stores, a single motel, car dealerships, and a bank.

With an average annual temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit, the lowest temperatures usually happen in January as winter weather peaks. As recently as 2021, Kenton experienced a low of -22 degrees Fahrenheit, which they also experienced in 2018. The lowest temperature that the entire state has ever experienced was 9 degrees colder. With a semi-arid climate, summers get extremely hot, with a record high of 109 degrees Fahrenheit.