U.S. Counties That Reported Freezing Temperatures Last Summer

By Sam Stebbins  •  May 26, 2026
a thermometer and a squirrel on a tree
Photo by Gary Fultz on Unsplash

Memorial Day weekend regularly ranks among the busiest travel periods of the year, and for millions of Americans, the holiday marks the beginning of summer. But for meteorologists and climatologists, the summer season does not begin until June 1 – the first day of the warmest three month period in the annual temperature cycle. 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average temperature during the meteorological summer was 71.4°F throughout the 20th century in the continental United States. In the era of climate change, however, historical temperature norms are becoming an increasingly unreliable predictor of future weather patterns. A recent report from Climate Central found that summer temperatures rose in 97% of the 243 U.S. cities analyzed  between 1970 and 2025. These same places have 22 more hotter-than-normal summer days today than they did 55 years ago, on average.

Even as temperatures are rising at an unprecedented rate across the United States, daily temperature fluctuations can still result in unexpected anomalies. On Memorial Day 2026, for example, freezing temperatures were reported in Alamosa, Colorado, Mount Washington in New Hampshire, and multiple parts of Alaska, including the city of Anchorage. And if last year is any indicator, there are many parts of the country where the beginning of the meteorological summer season will not necessarily mean an end to freezing temperatures.

Using local weather station data compiled by NOAA’s Northeast Regional Climate Center, Climate Crisis 247 identified the American communities that reported freezing temperatures in the summer of 2025. We reviewed all available temperature data for weather stations across the continental U.S. between June 1 and August 31, 2025, and ranked counties on the lowest reported summer temperature. Only the 10 most populous counties that reported temperatures of 32°F or lower last summer are ranked. Population data are five year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. 

a view of a city at sunset from a hill
Photo by Raul Miranda on Unsplash

10. El Paso County, Colorado

  • Lowest reported temperatures in summer 2025: 32°F
  • Date of occurrence: June 18, 2025 (reported at Ruxton Park Weather Station)
  • Average June temperature in El Paso County, 1991-2020: 63.2°F
  • El Paso County population: 742,999

9. San Bernardino County, California

  • Lowest reported temperatures in summer 2025: 32°F
  • Date of occurrence: June 24, 2025 (reported at Fawnskin California Weather Station)
  • Average June temperature in San Bernardino County, 1991-2020: 79.3°F
  • San Bernardino County population: 2,197,104

8. Utah County, Utah

  • Lowest reported temperatures in summer 2025: 30°F
  • Date of occurrence: June 22, 2025 (reported at Clear Creek #1 Weather Station)
  • Average June temperature in Utah County, 1991-2020: 61.3°F
  • Utah County population: 705,400

7. Pierce County, Washington

  • Lowest reported temperatures in summer 2025: 30°F
  • Date of occurrence: June 21, 2025 (reported at Rainier Paradise RS Weather Station)
  • Average June temperature in Pierce County, 1991-2020: 54.6°F
  • Pierce County population: 930,319

6. Fresno County, California

  • Lowest reported temperatures in summer 2025: 30°F
  • Date of occurrence: June 22, 2025 (reported at Dinkey California Weather Station)
  • Average June temperature in Fresno County, 1991-2020: 65.6°F
  • Fresno County population: 1,016,725

5. King County, Washington

  • Lowest reported temperatures in summer 2025: 30°F
  • Date of occurrence: June 15, 2025 (reported at Meadows Pass Weather Station)
  • Average June temperature in King County, 1991-2020: 55.6°F
  • King County population: 2,287,171

4. Spokane County, Washington

  • Lowest reported temperatures in summer 2025: 29°F
  • Date of occurrence: June 2, 2025 (reported at Spokane 17 SSW Weather Station)
  • Average June temperature in Spokane County, 1991-2020: 59.6°F
  • Spokane County population: 549,056

3. Salt Lake County, Utah

  • Lowest reported temperatures in summer 2025: 29°F
  • Date of occurrence: June 22, 2025 (reported at Mill-D North Weather Station)
  • Average June temperature in Salt Lake County, 1991-2020: 63.3°F
  • Salt Lake County population: 1,196,523

2. Washoe County, Nevada

  • Lowest reported temperatures in summer 2025: 25°F
  • Date of occurrence: June 22, 2025 (reported at Big Meadow Weather Station)
  • Average June temperature in Washoe County, 1991-2020: 61.2°F
  • Washoe County population: 497,200

1. Sonoma County, California

  • Lowest reported temperatures in summer 2025: 23°F
  • Date of occurrence: June 20, 2025 (reported at Hawkeye California Weather Station)
  • Average June temperature in Sonoma County, 1991-2020: 62.3°F
  • Sonoma County population: 485,040


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