Anyone who’s experienced wintertime in North Dakota is no stranger to its frigid temperatures, snowfall, and gusts of wind that seem nothing short of arctic. If you’re thinking that this state must be among the coldest in the entire country, you’ve got scientific backup to support that notion. Here’s more on North Dakota’s official position as the 2nd coldest state in the country:
Geof Wilson/flickr With an average annual temperature of just 40.4 degrees, North Dakota is by and large one of the coldest states in the U.S. In fact, it comes in second place during winter and fall after Alaska. And when considering how much closer to the pole Alaska is, this comes as no surprise.
Jake Edwards/flickr
U.S. Department of Agriculture/flickr Interestingly enough, North Dakota gets something of a break during spring and summer. You might expect one of the coldest winter states in the U.S. to stay frigid all year round, but this isn’t so. During spring, Maine becomes the chilliest and in the summer, it’s Wyoming that records some of the lowest temperatures.
Roy Luck/flickr
Wes Peck/flickr Even so, North Dakota’s winters are frigid enough to give the impression of lasting a very, very long time. The coldest temperature recorded in this state happened in February of 1936, when the temperature dropped to -60 degrees.
Charles Fulton/flickr
Geof Wilson/flickr Snow is almost always in the equation when it comes to frigid winters in the Peace Garden State. Depending on the region of the state, annual average snowfall can range anywhere from 27 inches (as recorded in Wahpeton) to 51 inches (as recorded in Bismarck).
Jordan Green/flickr
Wes Peck/flickr And while these frigid winters and impressive amounts of snowfall may seem overbearing, there’s no denying how utterly breathtaking a place North Dakota becomes. It’s a true winter wonderland.
Have you experienced a true winter in North Dakota? Feel free to share your experience with us!
Geof Wilson/flickr
With an average annual temperature of just 40.4 degrees, North Dakota is by and large one of the coldest states in the U.S. In fact, it comes in second place during winter and fall after Alaska. And when considering how much closer to the pole Alaska is, this comes as no surprise.
Jake Edwards/flickr
U.S. Department of Agriculture/flickr
Interestingly enough, North Dakota gets something of a break during spring and summer. You might expect one of the coldest winter states in the U.S. to stay frigid all year round, but this isn’t so. During spring, Maine becomes the chilliest and in the summer, it’s Wyoming that records some of the lowest temperatures.
Roy Luck/flickr
Wes Peck/flickr
Even so, North Dakota’s winters are frigid enough to give the impression of lasting a very, very long time. The coldest temperature recorded in this state happened in February of 1936, when the temperature dropped to -60 degrees.
Charles Fulton/flickr
Snow is almost always in the equation when it comes to frigid winters in the Peace Garden State. Depending on the region of the state, annual average snowfall can range anywhere from 27 inches (as recorded in Wahpeton) to 51 inches (as recorded in Bismarck).
Jordan Green/flickr
And while these frigid winters and impressive amounts of snowfall may seem overbearing, there’s no denying how utterly breathtaking a place North Dakota becomes. It’s a true winter wonderland.
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