Right now, we’re living in a world of extremes. Some cities are so hot, your shoes melt when you walk, and others are cold that you worry about hypothermia. If you visit any of these cities, you should ensure that you’ve prepared clothing to stay warm and supplies in case you can’t get out during the snow.
Winnipeg, Canada
Winnipeg is a lovely place to visit at any other time except in the winter. In the winter, the temperatures are freezing, and staying warm is almost an impossibility. However, the city does try to ensure that the cold can be fun, offering hiking, skating, cross-country skiing, and several museums.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Another freezing location that people still want to flock to because of the Northern Lights, you’ll find it’s easy to freeze here. The temperatures are well below what people are used to, and it’s a biting cold that seems to get into your bones. However, if you’re brave enough, it can be lovely for ice fishing and other activities.
Anchorage, Alaska
An incredible city that can drop to negative thirty-eight degrees, you can see some of the most breathtaking glacial views in the world here. From world-class museums to plenty of hiking and other winter activities, you’ll find that while it’s practically uninhabitable, the tourists want to try to come anyway.
Rochester, Minnesota
This area not only gets extremely frigid, but it also gets intense levels of snow. The driving factor is the wind. On average, it can get up to twelve miles per hour in the winter, meaning it’s got quite a bite to it. At the coldest it can get to negative forty degrees. While it’s lovely in the fall, it’s brutal in the winter.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
A lovely place to visit, particularly if you want to see Buddhist temples, but you’ll have to brave the ice and snow. It can get to negative forty-seven at the lowest, but the average temperature in winter is negative four. Still freezing and not for the faint of heart. If you do decide to brave the weather, take a historical tour and soak up the culture.
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks hardly ever gets past zero degrees during the coldest month of the year. It’s mostly flat and is more susceptible to cold weather as a result. If you come between June and September, you’ll see highs of about seventy, and it can be more enjoyable. Come in the winter, and you’ll be shivering the whole time.
Concord, New Hampshire
Concord gets blankets of intense snow each year, and the average snowfall in the coldest months is almost sixty-two inches. The average temperature in winter is negative fifteen degrees, but it can go down to negative thirty-seven. The worst part? The snow can carry far into the spring, so you won’t see too much sun.
Yakutsk, Russia
This city is one of the only spots in the world where you can experience something that feels magical. ‘Diamond dust’ is when you have ice crystals hanging in the atmosphere, and they glimmer. It’s another good place to check out the Northern Lights, but you can also see the Mammoth Museum!
Harbin, China
If you can brave an average winter temperature of negative eighteen, which could go to negative sixty-three, you can ski, go ice skating, but the best is to see the International Ice and Snow Festival. It’s the best for seeing amazing sites, and stepping into a world of glitter and winter wonder.
Duluth, Minnesota
So it gets cold here, at least in part, due to the proximity to Lake Superior. The cause of the snow that comes in at massive levels is considered a geographical phenomenon that has been labeled as ‘lake effect snow.’ On average, it will be about negative one degree, but it can get down to almost negative forty.
Oymyakon, Russia
It’s not technically coined as a city, but it’s one of the coldest places on the planet. It sits near the Arctic Circle, and the average temperature in winter is a frightening negative fifty-one. However, the lowest temperature is negative ninety. If you’re strong enough to handle it, you can hike, have fun experiencing the culture, and fish.
Ottawa, Canada
Visitors love to come here despite the cold because of the amazing culture and the incredible food. The city also promises an excellent history and tons of winter activities. It’s considered a metropolis and offers a museum and tons of indoor activities. On average, it’s about seven degrees, but its lowest is negative thirty-eight.
Nuuk, Greenland
It’s a beautiful and stunning town. Its picturesque landscapes are worthy of a thousand photos. If you love nature, it’s a great place for you to check out. There’s just one little problem. It’s cold here because it’s close to the Arctic Circle, so while you can see the Northern Lights, it’s regularly almost negative twenty degrees.
Williston, North Dakota
The minimum average is around zero degrees here, but in January it bounces around a bit. The temperature here throughout the year does the same, with highs of eighty in the summer, but almost never getting up to twenty degrees in the winter. North Dakota is known for being cold, but you’ll notice some cities are far colder than others.
Yellowknife, Canada
Another area that’s great for the lights, this area of Canada looks almost pitch black in the winter. The average temperature is negative twenty-one in winter, though it could go as low as negative sixty. People describe this cold as bone-chilling. If you want to go anyway, you can ice fish or cross-country ski for starters.
Bundle Up!
If you can take on the cold, come check out these wonderful cities. You’ll see the Northern Lights, amazing culture, terrific food, and if you bundle up properly, your face won’t be red as a tomato. Take the proper precautions; however, the cold is unforgiving, and you don’t want hypothermia.
