Here Are The 10 Coldest, Snowiest Towns In North Dakota

It's no secret that North Dakota can have some harsh winters. With record-setting temperatures and snowdrifts that would make anyone from a warmer climate faint, it's not for everyone. This is even more true in the coldest, snowiest towns in the state. Using NOAA data for yearly averages of both snowfall and low temperatures, here are 10 of some of the chilliest places in North Dakota during the winter:

1. Bismarck

Bismarck is North Dakota's capital city. It is also among its snowiest, at an average of a whopping 51.2 inches of snow each year.

2. Fargo

Fargo, North Dakota's biggest city, sees quite a bit of snow every year. It may not be as much as Bismarck, but it's very close at 50.1 inches of snowfall on average each year.

3. Minot

North Dakota's "Magic City" of Minot sees, on average, 46.1 inches of snow. Wow!

4. Williston

Williston has ranked among the top cities in the country as the coldest before, and for good reason. As for snowfall, it does as well. Each year Williston gets an average of 45.3 inches of snow.

5. Jamestown

Jamestown is known for a few things, including a big buffalo and also have an average yearly snowfall of 44.5 inches.

6. Bottineau

Bottineau is a popular destination for winter activities and for good reason. Other than having places like the Bottineau Winter Park to hit the slopes, it is also by far one of the coldest places on average in North Dakota. The average low temperature in Bottineau is 27 degrees and a high of only 50 degrees.

7. Rugby

Rugby is known as the geographical center of the continent of North America. It's also a really chilly place. The average low temperature is 27 degrees and high at 52 degrees. On average, it gets 37.3 inches of snow each year.

8. Powers Lake

Powers Lake is a small town at 280 residents. It has an average yearly low temperature of 27 degrees. In months like December, the average low is 0 degrees. As for snow, it gets roughly 30 inches each year.

9. Dickinson

The city of Dickinson gets an average snowfall of 34.3 inches and an average low temperature of 28 degrees. In January, that's almost the average high temperature!

10. Garrison

Garrison has a reputation for being a great place for fishing year round. You'll find that in winter the average low temperatures are below zero and average yearly low at 29. Snow-wise, they see 35 inches each year.

Did you know that last winter North Dakota reached temperatures that were colder than Antarctica? Seriously - it happened!