A devastating cold front, complete with extreme low temperatures, wind and precipitation, is hitting much of the United States this week.
The phenomenon, known popularly as a “polar vortex,” will move across the Midwest and Northeast, keeping temperatures in many places well below freezing for an extended period of time – and wind chill levels at life-threatening lows.
In parts of Minnesota, the wind chill factor could reach as low as -65 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicago might break its record low for temperature excluding wind chill, -27 degrees Fahrenheit, set on Jan 20, 1985. But even if temperatures fall below that level, it will likely not come close to Illinois’ all-time low temperature, a staggering -36 degrees Fahrenheit set in Bloomington in 1999.
Based on records from the State Climate Extremes Committee, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the coldest temperature on record in every state. Most state record lows have lasted for decades, in some cases over a century, and as U.S. average temperatures continue to rise, record high temperatures being set are exceeding record low temperatures by a ratio of 2:1. Only two states’ record low temperatures have been set in the 21st century. The vast majority of states’ record lows have stood unbroken for well over 50 years.
Cold weather advice: 8 things you shouldn’t leave in your car during polar vortex
Inclement weather policy: Can your employer force you to go into the office?
In a few cases, records have been tied but remained unbroken. In Massachusetts, the record low temperature of -35 degrees Fahrenheit has been recorded at weather stations within the state three times: first in 1904, then in 1943, and finally 1981. In a few states, the record low was recorded on separate days. In Wisconsin, the state’s record of -55 degrees Fahrenheit was set in Stone Lake on Friday, Feb. 2, 1996, and then in the same place two days later.
To identify the coldest days in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the State Climate Extremes Committee’s (SCEC) records of extreme cold temperatures in every state, then listed the city/location closest to the weather station that recorded the extreme weather event. Data was sourced from the Nautical Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).
Alabama
• Record low temperature: -27 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Huntsville, 1/30/1966
Alaska
• Record low temperature: -80 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Bettles, 1/23/1971
Arizona
• Record low temperature: -40 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Springerville, 1/7/1971
Arkansas
• Record low temperature: -29 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Bentonville, 2/13/1905
California
• Record low temperature: -45 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Truckee, 1/20/1937
Colorado
• Record low temperature: -61 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Craig, 2/1/1985
Connecticut
• Record low temperature: -32 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Salisbury, 2/16/1943
• Place and time: Mansfield, 1/22/1961
Delaware
• Record low temperature: -17 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Georgetown, 1/17/1893
Florida
• Record low temperature: -2 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Tallahassee, 2/13/1899
Georgia
• Record low temperature: -17 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: LaFayette, 1/27/1940
Hawaii
• Record low temperature: 12 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Hilo, 5/17/1979
Idaho
• Record low temperature: -60 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Ashton, 1/18/1943
Illinois
• Record low temperature: -36 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Bloomington, 1/5/1999
Indiana
• Record low temperature: -36 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Whiteland, 1/19/1994
Iowa
• Record low temperature: -47 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Elkader, 2/3/1996
• Place and time: Sioux City, 1/12/2019
Kansas
• Record low temperature: -40 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Lebanon, 2/13/1905
Kentucky
• Record low temperature: -37 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Shelbyville, 1/19/1994
Louisiana
• Record low temperature: -16 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Minden, 2/13/1899
Maine
• Record low temperature: -50 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: northern border, 1/16/2009
Maryland
• Record low temperature: -40 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Oakland, 1/13/1912
Massachusetts
• Record low temperature: -35 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Taunton, 1/5/1904
• Place and time: Worcester, 2/15/1943
• Place and time: Pittsfield, 1/12/1981
Michigan
• Record low temperature: -51 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Vanderbilt, 2/9/1934
Minnesota
• Record low temperature: -60 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Tower, 2/2/1996
Mississippi
• Record low temperature: -19 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Corinth, 1/30/1966
Missouri
• Record low temperature: -40 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Warsaw, 2/13/1905
Montana
• Record low temperature: -70 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Fairfield, 1/20/1954
Nebraska
• Record low temperature: -47 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Bridgeport, 2/12/1899
• Place and time: Oshkosh, 12/22/1989
Nevada
• Record low temperature: -50 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: San Jacinto, 1/8/1937
New Hampshire
• Record low temperature: -50 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Jackson, 1/22/1885
New Jersey
• Record low temperature: -34 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: River Vale, 1/5/1904
New Mexico
• Record low temperature: -50 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Farmington, 2/1/1951
New York
• Record low temperature: -52 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Old Forge, 2/18/1979
North Carolina
• Record low temperature: -34 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Black Mountain, 1/21/1985
North Dakota
• Record low temperature: -60 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Parshall, 2/15/1936
Ohio
• Record low temperature: -39 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Crooksville, 2/10/1889
Oklahoma
• Record low temperature: -31 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Nowata, 2/10/2011
Oregon
• Record low temperature: -54 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Ukiah, 2/9/1933
• Place and time: Seneca, 2/10/1933
Pennsylvania
• Record low temperature: -42 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Port Allegany, 1/5/1904
Rhode Island
• Record low temperature: -28 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Charlestown, 1/11/1942
South Carolina
• Record low temperature: -19 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Rosman, 1/21/1985
South Dakota
• Record low temperature: -58 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: McIntosh, 2/17/1936
Tennessee
• Record low temperature: -32 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Ashland, 12/30/1917
Texas
• Record low temperature: -23 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Tulia, 2/12/1899
• Place and time: Seminole, 2/8/1933
Utah
• Record low temperature: -50 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Provo, 1/5/1913
Vermont
• Record low temperature: -50 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Bloomfield, 12/30/1933
Virginia
• Record low temperature: -30 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Pembroke, 1/21/1985
Washington
• Record low temperature: -48 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Winthrop, 12/30/1968
West Virginia
• Record low temperature: -37 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Lewisburg, 12/30/1917
Wisconsin
• Record low temperature: -55 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Stone Lake, 2/4/1996
• Place and time: Stone Lake, 2/6/1996
Wyoming
• Record low temperature: -66 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place and time: Yellowstone National Park, 2/9/1933
24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
Read more at USA TODAY.
