Polar Vortex Bringing Brutal, Record Cold To These Counties

By Evan Comen  •  February 26, 2025
Close-up of red berries encased in ice on snowy branches during winterhttps://climatecrisis247.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/828658-150x150.jpeg

While 17 states had their warmest year on record last year, 2025 has been off to an abnormally cold start. The polar vortex – the large, low pressure mass of cold air that maintains the North Pole’s arctic conditions – has moved hundreds of miles farther south than usual this year. The polar vortex’s southerly displacement has caused regular outbreaks of Arctic air in the United States, and exposed over 100 million Americans to subzero temperatures.

 

Hot property? From Maui to Malibu, These Affluent Enclaves Are Becoming Wildfire Hotspots

 

Buried! The 25 Snowiest Days in US History

 

In January, the average temperature was 29.2°F in the United States, the 33rd coldest January on record. Some parts of the country experienced much colder extremes, with average daily temperatures ranking among the top 10 coldest Januarys in recorded history. A closer look at the data reveals the counties where it is most abnormally cold this year, and serves as a reminder of how climate change can contribute to anomalies of both extreme heat and extreme cold.

 

To determine the counties where it is abnormally cold this year, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on current and historical temperature records from the NOAA. Counties were ranked based on how the average daily temperature in January 2025 ranks in monthly records going back to 1895.

15. Lewis County, WV

Photo by Sid Cosmo on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 23.7°F (8th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1977 (16.2°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 31.2°F
 

14. Wetzel County, WV

Photo by Jonathan Moore on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 21.9°F (8th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1977 (14.1°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 29.5°F
 

13. Harrison County, WV

Photo by David Dibert on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 22.8°F (8th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1977 (15.4°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 30.4°F
 

12. Randolph County, WV

Photo by Martin Alargent on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 19.0°F (8th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1977 (12.1°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 26.7°F
 

11. Upshur County, WV

Photo by David Kanigan on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 22.1°F (8th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1977 (14.7°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 30.0°F
 

10. Hinsdale County, CO

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 11.7°F (7th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1937 (6.6°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 16.9°F
 

9. San Juan County, CO

Photo by David Kanigan on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 12.8°F (7th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1937 (7.6°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 18.1°F
 

8. Pender County, NC

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 38.4°F (7th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1940 (33.0°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 44.5°F
 

7. Cherokee County, NC

Photo by _ Whittington on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 30.2°F (7th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1940 (23.7°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 37.4°F
 

6. Lake County, CO

Photo by Frank Cone on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 9.6°F (6th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1937 (7.6°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 15.7°F
 

5. New Hanover County, NC

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 39.0°F (6th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1940 (34.7°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 45.4°F
 

4. Brunswick County, NC

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 39.0°F (6th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1977 (34.9°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 45.5°F
 

3. Teller County, CO

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 15.5°F (6th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1930 (10.4°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 22.0°F
 

2. Webster County, WV

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 21.4°F (6th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1977 (14.2°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 29.1°F
 

1. Park County, CO

Photo by Adriaan Greyling on Pexels

  • Average temperature, January 2025: 13.0°F (5th coldest on record)
  • Coldest January on record: January 1930 (9.4°F average)
  • Average January temperature, 1901-2000: 19.5°F
 

  1. Finding a fiduciary financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area in 5 minutes.
  2. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Get on the path toward achieving your financial goals!
More from ClimateCrisis 247