Countries with the Harshest Winters - Global Moving Services (2024)

Here, at Global Moving Services (GMS), we can move your goods anywhere in the world, including Paris in France and New York in the USA but also to obscure places you wouldn’t really think of, such as Oymyakon in Russia. Is it difficult sometimes? Yes, but we get always get the job done!

The country that tops our list of having the harshest winter is actually the coldest continent in the world – Antarctica.

Covered in snow all year round, Antarctica is also known as the most inhabitable place in the world. There are actually 66 scientific bases in Antarctica, of which about 37 are occupied year-round, and whilst no one lives there indefinitely there are about 4,000 people in the summer months and 1,000 overwinter each year.

With high-speed winds, a lack of portable water, food, or shelter and temperature falling to 100 degrees Celsius below 0, it’s clear to see why people prefer not to move here unless they are doing scientific research. If you are going, it is wise to invest heavily in high-quality winter gear; glovers, sweaters, coats and boots!

The coldest country in the world after Antarctica is Russia, a town called Oymyakon that has an average temperature of -50C (-58F). Generally considered the coldest inhabited place on earth, it’s a two-day drive to the closest town of Yakutsk, the region’s capital which has the lowest temperature of any city in the world. The lowest recorded temperature was in 1924 at -78C. It’s too cold in the town for any underfloor plumbing as it is frozen solid, this means that most toilets are outside. Cars also have to be left running otherwise they will freeze up and be unable o get started again. The solitary school only shuts if temperatures fall below -52C!

Recently the population has dwindled in Oymyakon from 2,500 to around 500 inhabitants. The village was originally a stopover for reindeer herders and its name actually means “non-freezing water” due to the thermal waters nearby. Like in the Antarctic you have to be well wrapped up as frostbite can occur after just a few minutes.

Canada can also be a pretty cold place to move to with the coldest temperature ever recorded at −63.C (−81.4F), in Snag, Yukon in 1947. Montreal also has an underground shopping mall so people can shop in comfort all year round!

The coldest winter on record in the UK occurred in 1982 with a temperature of -27.2C in the north of Scotland, which in retrospect is still a lot warmer than both of the above places.

The world meteorological organisation puts the world record for lowest ever temperature to be a reading of -89.2C which was recorded in July 1983 at the Vostok weather station in Antarctica.

However, due to global warming, these temperatures could be rising higher in the future as Russia is currently warming 2.5 degrees faster than the rest of the world. Meaning that a future for these inhabited towns could allow for underground plumbing and fewer layers resulting in an overall better living situation.

Living in these cold climates can be exhausting but is also a testament to humanities ability to live and be happy anywhere in the world.

Feeling a bit chilled after reading about the coldest countries in the world? Why not take a look at our moving guides to find a beautiful tropical locations to relocate to or get in touch with our relocation team for some expert moving advice.

Countries with the Harshest Winters - Global Moving Services (2024)

FAQs

Countries with the Harshest Winters - Global Moving Services? ›

The country that tops our list of having the harshest winter is actually the coldest continent in the world – Antarctica. Covered in snow all year round, Antarctica is also known as the most inhabitable place in the world.

Which country has the harshest winters? ›

  • 1) Russia. The most populous country in the world, Russia, is known for its very cold climate and long winters. ...
  • 2) Canada. The second-biggest country in the world, Canada, is well known for its frigid weather, especially in the north. ...
  • 3) Greenland. ...
  • 4) Iceland. ...
  • 5) Finland. ...
  • 6) Sweden. ...
  • 7) Norway. ...
  • 8) Mongolia.
Jan 16, 2024

Which country has the longest winter? ›

The country with the longest winter is Russia. Russia is a vast country that spans over 11 time zones and stretches from the edge of Europe to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Much of Russia has a cold, continental climate, with long, snowy winters and short, warm summers.

Which US city has the worst winters? ›

1. Fairbanks, Alaska. With a minimum average temperature of about minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit, Fairbanks takes the cake as the coldest city in the U.S. The northernmost major city in Alaska, Fairbanks has seen record cold temperatures reaching minus 66 degrees in the past.

What is the top 10 coldest country in the world? ›

These are the coldest countries in the world by annual mean temperatures.
  1. Canada - 22.37°F. The snow-clad streets of Montreal, Canada, in winter. ...
  2. Russia - 22.82°F. ...
  3. Mongolia - 30.74°F. ...
  4. Norway - 34.70°F. ...
  5. Kyrgystan - 34.79°F. ...
  6. Finland - 35.06°F. ...
  7. Iceland - 35.15°F. ...
  8. Tajikistan - 35.60°F.
Dec 15, 2022

What is the 1 coldest country in the world? ›

Topping the list. as the coldest country on the entire planet. is Antarctica, where temperatures have been recorded as low as. minus 81 degrees.

What countries have the darkest winters? ›

The northernmost regions of Norway like Tromsø and Svalbard witness the enchanting polar nights. Winter is when the darkness envelops the terrain and you get to experience the majestic fjords and snow-covered mountains in a slightly different way.

What's the coldest city in the world? ›

The coldest city in the world is Yakutsk in Siberia, Russia. A record low temperature was recorded in the city on 5 February 1891 at -64.4°C (-83.9°F). During January, the average low temperature is -42°C (-43.6°F), with the city getting less than four hours of sunlight per day.

What is the coldest place on Earth to live? ›

Oymyakon, Russia (-88°C)

Nestled in the depths of Siberia, Oymyakon holds the official title of the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth. The average winter temperature here hovers around -50°C, and the record low stands at a jaw-dropping -88°C.

What country never has cold weather? ›

Summary. Puerto Rico: The entire country never experiences snowfall due to its proximity to the equator and direct sunlight. Temperatures can go down to 67.1°F and 67.8°F in January and February, but that's the coldest it gets. Vanuatu: This tropical island has never had snowfall recorded in history.

Where is the cheapest warm place to live in USA? ›

Check out some of the most affordable cities to live in that have temperate weather year-round.
  • Norfolk, Virginia. Average weather summer: 73°F to 88°F. ...
  • Huntsville, Alabama. ...
  • Tallahassee, Florida. ...
  • San Antonio, Texas. ...
  • Greensboro, North Carolina. ...
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...
  • Springfield, Missouri. ...
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Mar 5, 2023

What is America's coldest city? ›

Fairbanks, Alaska (27.6°F)

Alaska managed to take the win even with our “population of at least 10,000” stipulation. The city experiences a mean annual temperature of 27.6°F—that's below the freezing point! For those interested in records, the lowest temperature on record for Fairbanks is -66°F.

Which state has no snow in us? ›

Key West, Florida

It's official. According to the National Weather Service, no snow has fallen in Key West or the Florida Keys since weather recording began in 1872. Thanks to Florida's subtropical climate and low elevation, snow is rare throughout the state and almost unheard of in its southern regions.

What countries have no summer? ›

Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Scotland and a few others are well known for having virtually no summer. The temperature range in Scotland is 7 degrees in winter to 13 in summer. Parts of coastal maritime Canada are similar too, as in northern and Eastern Russia too.

What's colder Canada or Russia? ›

Russia has more land area whereas Canada has more maritime exposure, so it's clear that the former has colder land areas. More than 60% of the land in Russia is permafrost. As for records, the lowest is in Russia at -71.2 degrees Celsius. The record low in Canada is -63 degrees Celsius.

What country is cold all year round? ›

Iceland is characterized by a Polar Tundra climate and consequently, remains cold throughout the year. Temperatures in summer are as low as 50°F which fall even lower in winters, reaching as low as 37°F on average in January.

What country has the worst weather? ›

Which Country Experiences the Most Severe Weather? Haiti. Every six out of 100,000 people die due to terrible weather. Moreover, its climate constantly leads to natural disasters like floods and hurricanes, resulting in catastrophes for its inhabitants.

What country has the most extreme weather? ›

The US has dealt with a number of catastrophic weather events in recent months. The country leads the world in the number of extreme weather events, the Associated Press reported. Experts said that's due to geography, human behavior, and a warming climate.

What is colder Canada or Russia? ›

Russia has more land area whereas Canada has more maritime exposure, so it's clear that the former has colder land areas. More than 60% of the land in Russia is permafrost. As for records, the lowest is in Russia at -71.2 degrees Celsius. The record low in Canada is -63 degrees Celsius.

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