Winter in Missouri can certainly be a mixed bag, but there’s one thing of which we can usually be assured. We’ll experience some downright frigid days that keep us counting down the days until spring. Missouri generally experiences an average of 110 days of temperatures that dip below 32 degrees. However, two winters were so cold that it barely made it to freezing all winter, tying for the coldest winter in Missouri.

Missourians are used to the cold, but two winters stand out as the coldest in Missouri’s history. Both the winter of 1904-05 and 1977-78 were so cold that temperatures averaged 24.3 degrees Fahrenheit all season long.
Flickr/Vincent Parsons
Prior to the 1977-78 winter, Missouri experienced its coldest month on record, to date. January 1977 posted an average daily temperature of just 13.6 degrees. The average high came in at 22.6 with an average low of 4.6.
Flickr/20after4
That Missouri winter set several records, including the record for the most snowfall in a season, tallying 54.4 inches.
Flickr/KOMU News

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Statistics from the Missouri Climate Center show that the 1970s saw three of the coldest winters in Missouri’s history. The cold streak began during the winter of 1976-77 (it’s the fifth coldest winter on record) and continued through 1978-79 (the third coldest winter on record).
Flickr/Vincent Parsons
While those winters were downright frigid, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Missouri occurred in Warsaw on February 13, 1905. The temperature dipped to negative 40 degrees.
Flickr/Heath Cajundig
Just a few years later, during the winter of 1982-83, Missouri saw its smallest snowfall – just four inches – in recorded history. Average snowfall annually depends on in which area of Missouri you live.
Flickr/Jo Naylor
The Missouri weather year round can be a bit finicky. We've even experienced a taste of all four seasons in a single day.
It wasn’t until 1983 that Missouri would break another record with the coldest December in history. Temperatures that December averaged 17.6 degrees.
Flickr/Paul Sabelman

Did you experience the coldest temperature in Missouri? Share with us in the comments! If you didn’t experience that frigid winter, what is the coldest Missouri winter you remember? Let us know in the comments! If you’re up for a bit of cold weather fun, even though it might not be as cold as the winter of 1977-78, plan a visit to one of the snowiest towns in Missouri.

A Missouri winter is perfect for exploring some of the best hiking trails. Just make sure you bundle up before heading out.

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Missouri Winter

Beth Price-Williams | January 09, 2024

Are there any winter hiking trails in Missouri?

Getting outdoors during a Missouri winter is essential for some of us to avoid falling prey to cabin fever. One of the best ways to do that is to follow one of the best winter hiking trails in Missouri, including:

  • The 11.6-mile Bell Mountain Loop Trail in Belleview is long, but every step is positively enchanting, especially with snow on the ground. It tends to be quiet, so don’t expect to run into many other hikers.
  • Follow the 7.5-mile Natural Tunnel Trail in Bennett Spring State Park, which leads to a natural tunnel and simply stunning views.
  • The 1.7-mile Lone Wolf Trail meanders through Castlewood State Park and boasts awe-inspiring views of Kiefer Creek. Be prepared for some uphill climbs.
  • Coming in at just under three miles, the Mina Sauk Falls Trail leads to the tallest waterfall in Missouri. The trail is moderately challenging, so be sure to bundle up and wear sturdy shoes.
  • At 12.4 miles, the Whispering Pines Trail wanders through Hawn State Park and boasts breathtaking views of the mountains and rock formations.

What are some of the best things to do in Missouri in winter?

Winter in Missouri offers plenty to do, especially if you’re up for some time outdoors. Here are some of the best things to do in Missouri in winter.

  • Lace up your ice skates for an afternoon or evening gliding around the Steinberg Ice Skating Rink in St. Louis.
  • If you’re in Lee’s Summit, head over to Summit Ice. It features a fire pit and a snack bar.
  • Zip down a hill on a snow tube at Hidden Valley Ski Resort’s Polar Plunge Tubing Park in Eureka.
  • For more snow tubing fun, make your way to Snow Creek Ski Area in Weston.

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