By now you’re probably used to enjoying our colorful Vermont autumns, which are among the most beautiful fall colors in the country. It’s easy to be mesmerized by all that red and gold foliage and forget that it’s really a sign that winter is on its way. And boy oh boy, is Vermont weather in winter something else.

If you're like us, you've probably been stuck inside on a cold winter day and thought to yourself, "this must be the coldest place in the country." Of course, Alaska is actually the coldest state in the country, but according to the science and weather site Current Results, Vermont is one of the top 10.
Flickr/Nicholas Erwin
According to average temperatures across the state, Vermont was ranked the 7th-coldest state in the country. Of course, it's not just the frigid winters that decide a state's ranking.
Flickr/Jay Parker
Some states that might not have winters as cold as ours have colder summers, making their average colder for the year. That's why states in the Pacific Northwest don't crack the top 10 coldest overall, but they do make the list for the coldest summers.
Flickr/Richard Ricciardi

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Vermont is pretty cold year-round, with the 6th coldest winters and the 8th coldest summers in the country. According to U.S. Climate Data, the coldest month in Vermont is usually January, and the average low temperature is a frosty 10 degrees.
roya_m/flickr
Because the study uses a statewide average, colder regions of a state will bring down the average temperature for the rest of the state (cough, cough, we're looking at you, Northeast Kingdom).
Flickr/Jay Parker
Vermont has an average snowfall of 91.4 inches a year, while the average for the country is a 25 inches. A little cold weather never stopped Vermonters from having fun, though. Check out our list of fun things to do in Vermont during winter to make the best of the winter season.
Flickr/Professor Bop

Even though Vermont’s winters are no joke, and you should always be prepared, you have to admit there’s a lot of natural beauty in Vermont to be found, even during the coldest of seasons.

How do you handle living in the country’s seventh-coldest state?

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Vermont Weather

Tori Jane | July 11, 2022

What is the weather in Vermont like?  

Vermont has what’s called a wet continental climate, where the winters are chilly, summers are warm but not overly hot, and there is precipitation year-round. The average highs in winter in Vermont tend to reach 22-25 degrees, and the lows typically dip down to just two degrees! The highs during summer in Vermont, however, are much milder, with highs in the mid-70s and lows in the 50s. It rains, snows, and endures the occasional ice storm; some ice storms in Vermont have made history, though thankfully, they’re not super common.  

What was the coldest temperature in Vermont historically?  

Hang on to your (nice, warm) hats, because this is amazing. The lowest recorded temperature in Vermont occurred during the winter of 1933-1934 when temps plunged to as low as –50 degrees Fahrenheit. This happened in the town of Bloomfield on December 30, 1933, and it still hasn’t been forgotten. At temperatures that low, your breath can literally freeze, and exposed skin can become frostbitten within minutes. Usually, though, winter in Vermont isn’t all that bad; as we said above, the average daytime highs this time of year tend to reach 25 degrees or so. It’s cold, yes – but not bitterly so.  

How cold is Vermont?  

All in all, Vermont is the seventh-coldest state in the United States. Lots of folks might think it ought to be closer to the top, but nope! Other states are known to be colder (sometimes MUCH colder) than Vermont include Alaska, which regularly sees lows in the –50s, North Dakota, where the average temperature in January is anywhere from 2 to 17 degrees, and Minnesota, whose winter temps can plunge as low as the –30s. Other chilly places in the United States include Maine, Wyoming, and Montana. Wisconsin, Idaho, and New Hampshire are also in the top ten! Don’t get us wrong though – there are lots of fun things to do in Vermont during winter.  

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