The United States is a vast country with diverse climates. While some regions enjoy mild winters, others experience some of the harshest winter conditions in the world. There are 4 areas in the US that are prone to severe winters: Alaska, Northern Great Plains, Midwest, and Northeast. Let’s take a look at some climate data to determine which states have it the worst and why it makes sense to have a remote car starter in these regions.
We looked at 4 variables to narrow down the list of states with the harshest winters:
- Coldest states
- Snowiest states
- Freezing rain frequency
- Sleet vulnerability
States with the Coldest Winters
These are the 10 coldest states by average winter temperature:
It’s no surprise Alaska is the coldest state in the US with an average winter temperature of 2.6°F. It is the northernmost state in the US, meaning it's closer to the Arctic Circle. This proximity to the Arctic results in longer, darker winters and colder temperatures. During the winter months, Alaska experiences minimal daylight, leading to colder temperatures and less heat energy from the sun. Alaska is also influenced by its chain of mountains, which can trap cold air and prevent relatively warmer Pacific Ocean air from reaching certain regions.
Among the contiguous United States, North Dakota and Minnesota have the coldest winters. This region has a continental climate, characterized by large temperature variations between summer and winter. During the winter, cold air masses from the Arctic can easily move into the area unimpeded.
States with the Most Snowfall
These are the 10 snowiest states by average annual snowfall:
New York has the highest average annual snowfall amount of 123.8 inches due to Lake-Effect snow, a type of heavy snowfall that occurs when cold air masses move over warmer lake waters. As the cold air passes over the warmer lake, it picks up moisture from the water. When this moisture-laden air moves over land, it cools rapidly, causing the moisture to condense and fall as snow.
States with the Most Freezing Rain
There are a lot of states that are cold and snowy in the winter. We need to look at additional hazardous precipitation to understand the deeper brutality of mother nature.
(Above) Freezing rain covering the entirety of a car
Freezing rain falls as liquid rain but freezes upon contact with a cold surface, such as roads, trees, power lines, cars, and more. The Northeast frequently experiences the most freezing rain due to a geographical phenomenon called "cold-air damming," where a layer of cold air gets trapped near the coast by the Appalachian Mountains, allowing warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean to flow over it and freeze when it reaches the ground, resulting in freezing rain.
These are the 12 states with the highest annual average number of days with freezing rain (5-7 days in the dark bands in the map below):
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Vermont
States with the Most Sleet
Sleet occurs when snowflakes partially melt while falling through a layer of warm air, then refreeze as they fall through a layer of freezing air. The Northern Plains of the US experiences the most sleet, with an average of 14–20 days of sleet per year.
(Above) Sleet can dangerously obscure your vision
The Northern Plains frequently experience the most sleet because of their geographical position, which allows for frequent clashes between cold Arctic air masses from Canada and relatively warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, creating the ideal conditions for sleet formation. The annual frequency of sleet events decreases as you move south, with less than one day per year in the Deep South.
These states have the most sleet:
- Minnesota
- Montana
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Wyoming
States with the Harshest Winters
Tier 1
Alaska and Minnesota share the crown for the harshest winters in the US.
Alaska ranks 1st for the coldest state and 4th for the most annual snowfall. It is the only state that ranks in the Top 5 for both of those categories. Add the fact that Alaska receives minimal sunlight during the winter months, you can see that enduring an Alaskan winter is not an easy feat.
(Above) An Alaskan winter landscape
Minnesota ranks 3rd for the coldest state and 9th for the most snowfall. It is also located in the area that gets the most freezing rain and sleet. It is the only state that ranks highly in all 4 categories - Top 10 for cold & snow and located in both the vulnerable freezing rain & sleet zones.
Tier 2
The following states have severe winters, but they’re not quite as bad as Alaska or Minnesota. These states are in the Top 10 for cold & snow and are in one of the freezing rain or sleet prone areas.
(Above) A scenic winter in Maine
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- New York (Not in the Top 10 for cold, but it is the snowiest state so it gets inserted here)
- North Dakota
- Vermont
- Wyoming
Tier 3
These states have rough winters but are more bearable than the previous two tiers. These states are in the Top 20 for cold & snow and may be in one of the freezing rain or sleet prone areas.
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Wisconsin
Why Remote Car Starters Makes Sense in Harsh Winter Climates
If you live in one of these states, it's essential to be prepared for harsh winter conditions. Having a remote car starter in these states has become more of a necessity than a nice-to-have during the tough winters.
Start-X Remote Starters are easy to install and use
A remote car starter is particularly useful in winter for several reasons:
- Convenience: It allows you to start your car from a distance, warming it up before you even step outside. This means a toasty interior and defrosted windows when you're ready to go.
- Comfort: No need to bundle up and sit in a cold car, waiting for the cabin to warm up. Simply use your remote to warm up the vehicle and defrost the windows from the coziness of your home or workplace.
- Safety: It can take up to 20 minutes to fully de-ice your vehicle's windshield. Driving with a partially defrosted windshield can be dangerous. Get a head-start with a remote starter. A fully defrosted windshield means improved visibility and a reduced risk of accidents.
- Battery Protection: Warming up your car can help prevent excessive wear and tear on your battery, especially in extremely frigid temperatures.
From all of us at Stinger, we wish you a safe winter season this year. It is never too early to prepare – always have appropriate winter gear, be aware of weather forecasts, and take necessary precautions to stay safe during winter storms.