Coldest U.S. States Ranked by Average Annual Temperature

Based on long-term climate data, the coldest states in the U.S. by average annual temperature are dominated by northern latitudes and high elevations:

1. Alaska (-14.3°F / -25.7°C)
2. Wyoming (37.4°F / 3.0°C)
3. North Dakota (39.2°F / 4.0°C)
4. Montana (40.6°F / 4.8°C)
5. Maine (42.4°F / 5.8°C)
6. Vermont (42.8°F / 6.0°C)
7. Minnesota (43.1°F / 6.2°C)
8. New Hampshire (43.3°F / 6.3°C)
9. Idaho (43.4°F / 6.3°C)
10. Wisconsin (43.6°F / 6.4°C)

Alaska's extreme cold reflects its Arctic and subarctic climate zones. The contiguous states on the list share characteristics: high latitude, continental climates far from oceanic moderation, and in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, significant mountain elevations that depress average temperatures.