Weather
When it comes to winter weather, not all countries are created equal. From windswept tundra and snowy mountain peaks, all of the countries on this list are a far cry from a tropical South Pacific island. For the sake of fairness, Antarctica is excluded from this list as it is not a country and has no permanent human population. For our judging criteria for the worst winters, we take into consideration temperature extremes, average winter temperatures, length of the winter season, and storm severity and frequency. By factoring all of these conditions together, we have compiled a list of the places that have the most extreme and challenging seasonal conditions for human life. From pole to pole and all around the globe, these countries may make you appreciate your winter weather a little bit more.
7. United States of America
The USA may not immediately come to mind when it comes to places with the worst winters, but many forget or don’t realize just how massive the country truly is. Touching three oceans and spanning 3.8 million square miles, the USA is the third largest country in the world. While much of the country is temperate, tropical and desert areas exist as well. In fact, the United States has nearly every climate zone. Alaska, the largest state at 665,384 square miles, has a largely polar and subpolar climate, which is why it makes the list. Much of Alaska sees little or zero sun in winter due to its far northern location, and temperatures have been seen dropping below -80°F (-62.2°C). It is sparsely populated, however, so these extremes affect a relatively small amount of the total U.S. population.
6. Iceland
With a name like Iceland, you might expect to see this small Nordic country further up on this list. However, the country got its name because the Vikings first arrived there in winter. A Viking named Naddoddur called the island Snæland or “Snowland,” after climbing a local mountain and seeing nothing but snow fall. The Vikings discovered Greenland in summer, leading to its more hospitable-sounding name. In fact, Iceland’s extreme northern climate is moderated by the warm Atlantic current, making it not as harsh as one might initially expect. Nevertheless, Iceland frequently sees long, dark, gray winters with frequent overcast skies. As an island nation, feelings of isolation are common, and even summers offer little warming. Average temperatures for the country are just 46°F to 56°F (8°C to 13°C) in July, the country’s warmest month. Lucky for Icelanders, the country is full of geothermal hot springs to warm up in during those cold, dark months.
5. Mongolia
Mongolia is the most sparsely populated sovereign country in the world for a reason. The country faces more temperature extremes than just about anywhere on the planet. All of Mongolia has a very harsh climate; nearly the entirety of it is cold desert, semi-arid steppe, or mountains. Its location far away from the moderating influence of the ocean gives it wide-swinging temperature extremes, from scorching summers to windy, dry winters. The only reason it isn’t higher on this list is that dry cold limits massive storms from generally forming. Mongolia only has one small ski resort, Sky Resort, so the country really isn’t looking for big powder dumps. The country has seen temperatures as low as -72.4°F (-58°C). During the peak winter months, average temperatures across the country range from 5°F to -22°F (-15°C to -30°C).
4. Mali
When you think of rough winters, you may automatically associate it with snow and cold. Mali, in the African Sahel, makes this list for the complete opposite reason. While other northern hemisphere countries are frigid cold around December and January, Mali stays hot and oppressively humid. Mali regularly sees winter temperatures between 95°F and 100 °F (35°C to 38°C), combined with harmattan winds that can cause some serious negative health effects like respiratory problems, severe dryness, and increased infections. The dry, dusty trade winds sweep across West Africa from November to March, carrying heavy desert dust, microbes, and heavy metals. Unfortunately, access to clean drinking water and air conditioning can be hard to come by, making escaping the oppressive heat and toxic air all but impossible in some areas of the country.
3. Canada
There is a reason 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S. border. The massive country sits in the far northern hemisphere, with its northern portions being fully Arctic. Being so large, a majority of it is far away from the moderating influences of the ocean or large mountain ranges. Even its southernmost point lies at the same latitude as Detroit, a city known for its challenging winters. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Canada was -81.4°F (-63.0 °C), measured in Snag, Yukon, on February 3, 1947. This reading also stands as the lowest temperature ever officially recorded in continental North America. Conversely, parts of coastal British Columbia actually have palm trees despite being further north than Seattle due to the Pacific Ocean’s moderating influence.
2. Greenland (Denmark)
If Greenland had a population of more than 60,000 people, it could make a case for number one on this list. However, due to the limited human factor in Greenland’s harsh climate, it slides into the number two spot. As mentioned earlier, many people confuse Iceland with Greenland; however, Iceland is actually far more temperate than the name would suggest. Had the Vikings discovered Greenland in the winter, the names would surely have been reversed as the climate is much harsher here than in Iceland. Nearly all of Greenland’s small population lives along its southern and western coasts, as outside of these small areas it’s just too cold for human habitation. Greenland once saw a low of -93.3°F (-69.6°C), one of the coldest temperatures ever recorded on the planet.
1. Russia
Russia has the type of dark, omnipresent cold that nowhere else on earth outside of Antarctica can possibly rival. With over 143 million residents, the majority of Russians live in areas with harsh winters. One region stands far above the rest of the Russia for severe winters, however. All of the coldest cities in the world are located in Siberia, the coldest and most inhospitable region of the country. Located far away from any moderating influences, freezing cold air lies unwavering for months on end in this frozen landscape. Surprisingly, 33 million people call this frigid region home. Yakutsk, the capital of the Sakha Republic in eastern Siberia, is the coldest major city in the world. It experiences an extreme subarctic climate, in which January lows average around -43.6°F (-42°C). The city of nearly 400,000 sits in continuous permafrost, and has seen temperatures as low as -83.9 °F (-64.4 °C.) At these extreme temperatures, an unclad or improperly dressed human would lose consciousness within minutes and die from severe hypothermia in 15 to 30 minutes. Without winter gear, exposed skin develops frostbite in less than two minutes at -83.9 °F.
While all of these countries have some of the most notorious winter weather in the world, the way the residents build community together and thrive despite the conditions handed to them is truly inspiring. From viewing the northern lights in the remote regions of Alaska or Iceland to the bustling cities of Canada and Russia, humans make the most out of the cards they are dealt. Still, the vast majority of us are lucky to not have to regularly experience the extreme winter conditions these places have to face.
