Utah’s Coldest December Ever Will Chill You to Your Core

While January and February are the coldest months of the year across the United States, December is the beginning of winter and brings forth freezing temps and snowfall for much of the country. Despite Utah’s elevation and latitude, the Rocky Mountains to its east and north block winter storms and polar highs. However, the region still experiences cold and snowy winters. So, what is Utah’s coldest December ever? Find out now, including the coldest place in the state.

Does Utah Get Cold in December?

Utah Decembers are very cold, especially at night. Typical highs during the day range on average between 19- and 34-degrees Fahrenheit. The skies are also cloudy and overcast about 48% of the time during December. By this time of the year, Utah is covered in snow and ski resorts are open and busy. Typically, from December through February, the state experiences short daylight hours, freezing temperatures, and long snowfall periods.

Where is the Coldest Place in Utah?

Rural Utah towns are usually much colder than large cities, as they don’t have as much concrete and asphalt to absorb energy. The town of Coalville, a small rural community near Salt Lake City, is the state’s coldest town. Coalville has an average low temperature of 21.9 degrees and an average December low of just 4.7 degrees.

However, Peter Sinks, a naturally formed sinkhole in Utah’s northern region, is the coldest place in Utah. In Fact, it is one of the coldest places in the United States. It’s located in the Bear River Mountains in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest and has a unique combination of basin topography, high elevation, temperature inversions, and dry climate.

Peter Sinks had the lowest recorded temperature in Utah of -69.3 degrees Fahrenheit in February 1985 and the second-lowest temperature in the country. The sinkhole is so cold that trees cannot grow, even during the summer.

What Was Utah’s Coldest December Ever?

The coldest December ever recorded in Utah occurred in 1972. On December 15, temperatures dropped to a low of -15 degrees Fahrenheit. The second coldest December in Utah occurred in 1990, with a low recorded temperature of -11 degrees. The exact locations of these readings in Utah are unknown.