The 7 States with the Harshest Winters

The United States is home to a wide variety of climates. While most states experience all four seasons, some experience winter and summer harsher than others. In this article, we’ll be looking at the eight states in America that experience the harshest winters. These states are cold, windy, and totally full of snow.

For each state, we’ll take a look at the average winter temperatures and the average winter snowfalls. If you’re looking to explore the chill, head to one of these states for your next winter vacation — but be careful, you might get snowed out!

1. Minnesota

The Midwest region of the United States contains some of the harshest winters in the country. The first Midwest state on this list is Minnesota. Minnesota sees some harsh temperatures, significant winds, and massive snowfall. While there’s some variation within the state, the Lake Superior coast can get up to 70 inches per year. Generally, winter temperatures are between 15 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Wisconsin

Like its neighbor Minnesota, Wisconsin is another Midwest state with some of the harshest winters in America. Wisconsin also receives Canada air from up North, dropping the state’s temperatures in the winter. Average temperatures in Wisconsin can vary, but it’s not uncommon to spot temperatures around zero degrees. However, the state more likely rests around 15 degrees.

3. Alaska

Obviously, Alaska had to make the list. While Alaska’s residents are prepped to handle the cold temperatures of the state, the northernmost state in America sees some of the harshest winters on Earth. The average annual snowfall in the state is over 200 inches per year. In terms of temperatures, there’s some variation depending on region, but the state’s capital, Juneau, often doesn’t dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Michigan

Yet another Midwest state with some of the harshest winters in America is Michigan. Michigan experiences intense snowfalls from the surrounding Great Lakes and sees temperatures that often dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Northern regions of Michigan are more severe, while the southern parts of the state are more temperate. Some regions of Michigan receive some of the most significant snowfalls each winter. The Upper Peninsula region of the state often sees over 200 inches of snow!

5. Maine

While beautiful, the state of Maine sees some of the most intense winters of any state in America. It’s the most northerly state in the continental US, and the temperatures and snowfall prove it. Average Maine temperatures during the winter are around 15 degrees in the northern parts of the state, while southern areas are a balmy 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Snowfall is also significant in the state. The coast of Maine sees between 50 and 70 inches of snow annually, while inland Maine can see as much as 110 inches per year on average.

6. Illinois

Moving back to the Midwest, we have the city of Illinois boasting some of the harshest winters in America. This state contains the Windy City of Chicago, which sees harsh temperatures, snowfall, and absolutely bitter winds. Northern Illinois sees average temperatures between 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit, while southern Illinois has less significant chill. However, the windchill can make this temperature absolutely biting.

7. North Dakota

Finally, we have North Dakota, which has arguably the harshest winters of any state in the continental US. North Dakota is a northern Midwest state, bordering Canada and receiving the country’s chilliest winds. In the northern part of North Dakota, average temperatures sit around 2 degrees during the wintertime. Southern North Dakota is still a bone-chilling 17 degrees.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Andrei Stepanov/Shutterstock.com