Coldest Cities in the US During Winter

Out of the 51 largest cities in United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota has the coldest winter weather, based on average daily temperatures. It's the only American city that normally remains well below freezing throughout the day during December, January and February.

The extreme winter weather at Minneapolis covers the entire metropolitan area, taking in the adjoining city of St. Paul, where the temperature is no warmer.

These rankings of coldest cities use long-term temperature averages, based on weather data collected from 1981 to 2010 for the NOAA's National Climatic Data Center.

The major cities included in the weather rankings represent the 51 metropolitan areas in the United States with the most people, all those with over one million residents in 2010, according to the US Census Bureau. A complete list of America's 51 largest urban centers is available here.

Mean daily temperatures for 15 US cities are typically at or below freezing (32 °F) in winter.

US cities with the lowest normal daily mean temperatures in December, January and February

City	Daily Winter Mean
	°F	°C
Minneapolis, Minnesota	19	-7
Milwaukee, Wisconsin	25	-4
Chicago, Illinois	26	-3
Rochester, New York	27	-3
Buffalo, New York	27	-3
Detroit, Michigan	28	-2
Hartford, Connecticut	29	-2
Cleveland, Ohio	30	-1
Indianapolis, Indiana	31	-1
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	31	-1
Salt Lake City, Utah	31	0
Denver, Colorado	31	0
Providence, Rhode Island	32	0
Boston, Massachusetts	32	0
Columbus, Ohio	32	0

Coldest Winter Days

These big American cities have temperatures that on an average winter's day don't get above 40 °F (4.4 °C).

US cities with the lowest normal daily maximum temperatures in December, January and February:

City	Average Winter High
	°F	°C
Minneapolis, Minnesota	27	-3
Milwaukee, Wisconsin	31	0
Buffalo, New York	34	1
Chicago, Illinois	34	1
Rochester, New York	34	1
Detroit, Michigan	34	1
Cleveland, Ohio	37	3
Hartford, Connecticut	38	3
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	38	3
Indianapolis, Indiana	38	3
Boston, Massachusetts	39	4
Columbus, Ohio	39	4
Salt Lake City, Utah	39	4

Chilliest Winter Lows

Temperatures drop below 25 °F (-3.9 °C) in these major US cities during a typical winter night.

US cities with the lowest normal daily minimum temperatures in December, January and February

City	Average Winter Low
	°F	°C
Minneapolis, Minnesota	11	-12
Denver, Colorado	18	-8
Milwaukee, Wisconsin	18	-8
Chicago, Illinois	19	-7
Rochester, New York	20	-7
Buffalo, New York	21	-6
Hartford, Connecticut	21	-6
Detroit, Michigan	21	-6
Indianapolis, Indiana	23	-5
Salt Lake City, Utah	23	-5
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	23	-5
Providence, Rhode Island	24	-5
Cleveland, Ohio	24	-5
Cincinnati, Ohio	24	-4