The 4 Coldest Places in Nevada Will Chill You to Your Core

Do you love sunny days and predictable weather? If so, you might love visiting or living in the American state of Nevada. Temperatures remain stable in this southwestern desert state for most of the year. On an average day, you can expect plenty of sunshine, warm weather, low humidity, and a low chance of rain or precipitation. However, there are a few places in Nevada that get exceptionally cold. This article is a round-up of some of the coldest places in Nevada. Let’s learn all about the four coldest parts of Nevada now!

4. Carlin

Carlin is a small city just west of Elko in northeastern Nevada. Carlin has a unique place in American history due to its historic significance as part of the California Trail. In fact, Carlin has sometimes been called the “gateway to the world’s largest gold mines.” For years, mining was an important contributor to the local economy and a source of employment for those who worked in the mines. Even today, Carlin is known for having some of the richest gold deposits in the world. Like other parts of Nevada, Carlin experiences hot, arid summers and cold, sometimes snowy winters. The coldest months of the year are typically December, January, and February, with January lows dropping to an average of 18 degrees Fahrenheit. In a typical year, at least 253 Carlin days have temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Winnemucca

The only incorporated city in Humboldt County, Nevada, is the city of Winnemucca. This small city with a population of under 10,000 people has a semi-arid climate, like much of the state. The summers are hot, but the temperatures drop at night. In the winter, Winnemucca residents experience cold temperatures and light snow. The coldest recorded temperature in Winnemucca was -37 degrees Fahrenheit. This freezing temperature was captured in December 1990.

2. Elko

Elko, Nevada, has some of the coldest temperatures recorded in Nevada. In fact, Elko saw one of the record lowest temperatures in the state when the temperature dropped to -43 degrees Fahrenheit in 1937. Elko is the largest city in Elko County, which is located in the southwestern corner of the state. This part of Nevada experiences hot summers and cold winters, with regular snowfall and temperatures that consistently drop below freezing. Elko’s January low temperatures are often as cold as 12 degrees Fahrenheit and the winters average 39 inches of snow each year.

1. Ely

Last on our list, and the town that wins the award for being the coldest place in Nevada, is Ely. Ely, Nevada is located about 77 miles east of the bigger city of Eureka, Nevada. Not only is it the coldest place in Nevada, but Ely ranks 41st on the list of the coldest cities in the entire United States! According to Stacker, on an average day, Ely’s average temperature can be as low as 28.5 degrees Fahrenheit and rarely goes above 61.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Throughout the year, the average temperature in Ely is 44.9 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Ely is -30 degrees Fahrenheit, which was recorded on February 6, 1989.

In the summer, Ely can become blisteringly hot. However, an average of 214.9 nights each year see temperatures that drop below freezing. Some nights get even colder, with at least two weeks out of the average year seeing temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. In an average year, the coldest nights begin in September and last well into June of the next calendar year.

The Coldest Temperature Recorded in Nevada

In northeastern Nevada sits the old ghost town of San Jacinto. In abandoned San Jacinto, a broad stretch of desert terrain is set against a backdrop of rugged mountains. However, if you were to travel back 100 years, the scene would look very different. At the time, San Jacinto had a railroad station, a post office, and other important markers of civilization. There is not a whole lot to see now, but many people in Nevada and beyond still know the name of San Jacinto because of its legacy as a record-holder of the coldest temperatures recorded in Nevada.

In fact, on January 8, 1937, San Jacinto saw frigid temperatures of -50 degrees Fahrenheit! While the whole of Nevada experienced a frigid drop in temperature, northeastern Nevada saw the coldest days and nights. While it is rare to have such a dramatic low, this part of Nevada still sees some of the coldest temperatures in the state.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock.com