Is Cut Bank, Montana the coldest spot in the nation?

Cut Bank sits in one of the coldest regions of Montana where temperatures regularly drop to 13°F (-11°C) and sometimes lower. In fact, a world-record temperature drop of 103°F (39°C) was once recorded in nearby Loma. However, Cut Bank is not officially the coldest spot in the nation.

Throughout the latter part of the 20th century, the frigid winter temperatures in Cut Bank were broadcast on wire radio and the Armed Forces Radio Network, which helped secure its unofficial motto of “the coldest spot in the nation”.

But this isn’t the only reason Cut Bank dons this slogan. A 27-foot (8-meter) tall penguin statue standing at the entrance to town, greeting visitors with the slogan “WELCOME TO CUT BANK MT. COLDEST SPOT IN THE NATION“, made it stick.

Skip to:

• The penguin in Cut Bank, Montana
• How Cut Bank’s ‘Coldest spot in the nation’ penguin came to be
• How cold does it get in Cut Bank, Montana?
• What is the weather like in Cut Bank, Montana?
• Is Cut Bank, Montana a good place to live?
• What is there to do in Cut Bank, Montana?

The ‘Coldest Spot in the Nation’ penguin in Cut Bank, Montana

The original creator of the 27-foot-tall penguin on the west end of Cut Bank never said much about his creation. However, family members claim he wanted it to be over 25 feet tall and that he once refused a proposal to adorn it with a cowboy hat.

The Cut Bank penguin captures the attention of all visitors to Cut Bank. It stands at a giant 27 feet tall, adorned with an undersized, pointed cap atop its head, and giant feet, like a character straight from a Disney movie.

It’s made from reinforced concrete and reportedly weighs five tons, heavy enough to endure Cut Bank, Montana’s severe blizzards.

But what drove Ron Gustafson to build it in the first place?

How Cut Bank’s ‘Coldest Spot in the Nation’ penguin came to be

It was one of the frigid winter days when arctic air masses brought a devastating cold wave over Cut Bank and temperatures dropped to 64 degrees below zero (53°C).

This weather triggered a moment of inspiration for local Cut Bank resident, Ron Gustafson, who decided that morning to create a permanent tribute to Cut Bank’s exceptional weather.

Ron wasted no time designing and constructing an enormous statue of a penguin to place in front of his family-run appliance store at the east end of town near US Highway 2, one of the main routes into Cut Bank.

Its enormous size, cartoonish features, including its undersized cap, and the slogan painted in big black letters at its base, “WELCOME TO CUT BANK MT. COLDEST SPOT IN THE NATION”, have turned heads, sparked questions, triggered protest, and provided a warm welcome to curious visitors to Cut Bank ever since.

For a short period, the penguin even featured a loudspeaker that greeted visitors with a recorded message as they passed, “Welcome to Cut Bank. Coldest spot in the nation!“. However, the loudspeaker was removed in 2004, when the Gustafsons sold their appliance-store-turned-hotel, and moved out of state.

Why a penguin?

Why did Ron Gustafson choose to build a statue of an animal that isn’t native to North America?

It turns out, the penguin is somewhat of a cultural icon in Cut Bank. Long before Ron built his penguin statue, penguin-headed trash cans adorned Cut Bank. While the origin of the penguin symbol in Cut Bank remains unknown to us, it’s clearly related to it’s cold weather, and Ron was celebrating the town’s icon.

Interesting fact: Cut Bank’s penguin inspired a film entitled Cut Bank, which is set in Cut Bank but filmed in Innisfree, Alberta. Today, a replica penguin still stands in Innisfree:

While Cut Bank, Montana isn’t the coldest spot in the nation, the Penguin indeed represents the frigid, harsh, conditions that descend upon town each winter, with temperatures that can freeze smartphones and any exposed body part.

It also symbolizes the fun and ingenuity of some of the residents of Cut Bank. The next time you’re in Cut Bank, you’ll have the opportunity to snap a photo in the curious ‘Coldest spot in the nation’.

How cold does it get in Cut Bank, Montana in the winter?

The temperature in Cut Bank Montana during the winter ranges from 13°F (-11°C) to 39°F (4°C) on average. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Cut Bank was -47°F (-44°C) in 1936.

What are the coldest spots in Montana?

The coldest spots in Montana include the area around Cut Bank and Loma, where temperatures sometimes reach -12°F (-24°C) in the winter, and Wisdom, West Yellowstone, and Rogers Pass, where temperatures often reach -10°F (-23°C) in winter.

What is the coldest place in Montana?

On January 20, 1954, temperatures reached -70°F (-57°C) at Rogers Pass in Montana, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the lower 48 states.

What is the weather like in Cut Bank, Montana?

Despite its frigid winters, Cut Bank, Montana enjoys four seasons just like the rest of Montana.

During the winter months, the prairie surrounding Cut Bank is covered in a thick blanket of white snow, while its golden hues come out in full swing during the short warm summers.

Summers

Summers in Cut Bank, Montana are short, dry, and hot, with temperatures ranging from 44°F (7°C) to 81°F (27°C), on average.

Winters

Winters are Cut Bank’s longest season. They are cold, windy, and snowy, with cloudy weather throughout much of the season. Temperatures range from 13°F (-11°C) to 39° (4°C), on average.

Spring and Autumn

Spring and autumn in Cut Bank are short. The weather during these months can be extremely unpredictable, with snow falling one day, and the sun shining the next.

Interesting fact: The nearby town of Loma set a world record temperature drop on January 14, 1972, when the temperature fell 103°F (39°C) in 24 hours!

Source: Weather Spark

Is Cut Bank, Montana a good place to live?

Cut Bank is a great place to live! The town is located in beautiful northern Montana, surrounded by the golden prairies of the Northern Plains.

In town, there are plenty of cultural activities and events throughout the year, and Cut Bank’s location offers great access to some top outdoor spots in northern Montana. For example, Cut Bank is located about 1 hour from St Mary, the east entrance to Glacier National Park.

Some of the best aspects of living in Cut Bank, Montana include its livability and quality education, while the drawbacks include its high crime and poverty rates.

If you learn more about life in Cut Bank, read our full article, “Is Cut Bank, Montana a good place to live?“.

What is there to do in Cut Bank, Montana?

Cut Bank Montana offers access to a variety of outdoor activities and hosts various seasonal events throughout the year.

Common activities for people living in or visiting Cut Bank include:

• Events and festivals, such as Montana Shakespeare in the Parks and the beloved Lewis and Clark Days Festival.
• Glacier County Historical Museum & Archives, a 14-acre museum complex dedicated to local history, featuring a 1917 schoolhouse, oil worker’s house, and other exhibits of homestead life.
• Historically significant sites along the Lewis and Clark Trail, such as Camp Disappointment and Cut Bank Camp.

For a full list of the best things to do in Cut Bank, Montana, read our article, “10 best things to do in Cut Bank, Montana“.

Visit Cut Bank, Montana

Cut Bank Montana lies in one of the most beautiful regions of Montana. Set amid the golden prairies of the Northern Plains, visitors enjoy beautiful views and access to wonderful nature, such as the nearby Glacier National Park.

The town itself features a variety of wonderful historic sites and various cultural events throughout the year. If you’re curious about visiting the Cut Bank penguin or just want to see this pretty region of the state, you’re in for a treat.

Discover all there is to explore and experience in Cut Bank in our detailed article on what to see and do, where to stay, and what to expect in Cut Bank Montana.