One Of The Coldest Places In America Is Right Here In Wyoming

When you live in Wyoming, you get to experience the magic of all four seasons... even if one of them is a whole lot longer than the others. Spring brings a thaw, plenty of mud, and the beginning of the warmer weather. Summer would be a great time to explore the national parks, but the crowds make it kind of a disaster. Instead, most Wyomingites spend summer in the forests and state parks closer to home. Fall is when we do our traveling to Grand Teton or Yellowstone, or just when we head out on a drive to find the gorgeous colors of the season in aspen forests. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in appreciating all that fall has to offer, we forget that the leaves turning stunning shades of red and gold are actually reminders that winter is coming. Even though folks in Wyoming know how to make the best of the winter season, you have to admit it can get pretty cold here - and it seems like winter in Wyoming lasts forever.

Have you ever been stuck dealing with the weather on an exceptionally cold day and thought, "this has to be the coldest place in the country"? Well, you're actually not too far off, and the coldest temperatures in Wyoming are among the lowest in the country, every year.

According to data from the science and weather site Current Results, Wyoming is indeed on the list of top 10 coldest states in the U.S. Alaska, of course, takes the number one spot, but you might be surprised by the rankings of the Lower 48.

Based on state-wide annual average temperatures, Wyoming was ranked number five on the list. Surprisingly, Wyoming barely cracked the list of coldest winters, coming in at number 10, but it has the second coldest summers in the country. That means only Alaska has colder summers.

According to U.S. climate data, the average temperature for the whole year in Wyoming is a chilly 42 degrees. A statewide average was used for the study, meaning the coldest places bring down the overall temperature. So people in some small towns and cities might not really feel like they live in the country's 5th coldest state.

The coldest and snowiest town in Wyoming is Boudurant, in the Wind River Range. The freezing cold temperatues and snowfall out way exceed the national averages - but it's right in the heart of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, too.

Because the amount of snowfall varies so much by location, no significant data can be based on a statewide average, but instead the city of Lander is chosen as an example. There, the average annual snowfall is 91.4 inches, and the national average is a mere 25.

It's no surprise that the Cowboy State is one of the snowiest! Luckily, after dealing with the coldest temperatures in Wyoming, we're usually hoping for some snow to come down to make it all worth it.

Even though it can be a little inconvenient at times, you have to admit Wyoming does have some lovely scenery during the winter months.

How do you handle living in the 5th coldest state? Do you enjoy winter in Wyoming?