Posted in Idaho Seasonal November 29, 2017 by

Few People Know One Of The Coldest Places On Earth Is Right Here In Idaho

Idahoans are used to freezing cold winters. It’s just a fact of life when it comes to Idaho living. Our summers are super hot and our winters are just as cold. Like, really cold. In fact, one of the coldest places in the entire continental United States is located right here in Idaho! This place remains a relatively cool temperature all year long, and some of the coldest temperatures in the West during winter.

Stanley is known for being a recreational paradise in central Idaho. The town has a permanent population of only 63 residents, but the area sees hundreds of visitors all year long due to the town's close proximity to some of the finest wilderness areas.
Nicholas D/Flickr
However, many people are unaware that Stanley holds the title of being one of the coldest places in the entire country outside of Alaska!
Stanley, Idaho/Facebook
Year after year, Stanley's record breaking low temperatures ranks the town as one of the coldest locations in the U.S.
Stanley maintains consistently cool temperatures all year long, even in summer. Temperatures in the summer months are extremely mild compared to the rest of the state.
Stanley, Idaho/Facebook
Night temperatures are known to get down to somewhere in the 30s. However, these cool summer temperatures mean the town experiences almost unimaginably cold winter temperatures.
Stanley is listed as having the highest number of days a year with freezing temperatures. The town consistently experiences more than 270 days a year where temperatures plummet below freezing.
Stanley, Idaho/Facebook
During the most intense parts of winter, it's common for the temperature to drop to an incredibly frigid -30 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the town has experienced record breaking low temperatures of -50 degrees Fahrenheit!
Most notable is the fact that Stanley is consistently the coldest place in America (outside of Alaska) on any given day. Over a span of a decade, Stanley ranked highest for experiencing the lowest temperature in the contiguous U.S. according to this list.
Stanley, Idaho/Facebook
The reason this small mountain town experiences such cold temperatures is simply due to its location.
Stanley, Idaho/Facebook
Stanley is located in a bowl-shaped basin surrounded by the White Cloud, Boulder, and Sawtooth mountain ranges. Cold air drops to the floor of the basin since it is heavier than warm air.
Stanley's status as one of the coldest places in the country doesn't affect the love the residents have for their town. In fact, the people who live in this small mountain town have an intense appreciation for Stanley as one of the greatest places to live in Idaho. With views like this, who could disagree?
Stanley, Idaho/Facebook

Does it surprise you that one of the coldest places in America is located here in Idaho? Idahoans are no stranger to frigid winter weather. Did you know about this Terrifying, Deadly Storm That Struck Idaho In 1949?