Alaska's Climate

Alaska’s climate is not as extreme as you may think, of course it varies as this is America’s largest state and stretches from the north pacific to the artic circle. The information we have provided on this page is based upon the tourist regions of central and southern Alaska to incorporate anchorage, Fairbanks and the inside passage regions.

Alaska

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Average temp oF

15

19

25

40

51

61

62

61

58

40

27

18

Average rainfall inc

0.8

0.8

0.7

0.7

0.7

1.1

1.7

2.4

2.7

2

1.7

1.1

Average daylight hours

6

10

12

14

18

19

18

16

13

10

8

5

Summers are generally warmer than expected with temperatures averaging around 60 degrees Fahrenheit however temperatures have been known to soar to 80 degrees Fahrenheit making this the most pleasant time of year for touring or cruising the region. Also a point worth noting is that due to being so far north the daylight hours are long in the summer months and in northern most parts of the state the daylight hours can be 24 hours long and for period of up to 85 days a year nightime never occurs in the far north. This is however not the case in the whole state and the further south you travel the less amount of sunlight occurs although even in anchorage in the height of the summer you can expect up to 21 hours of daylight each day. In winter the sunlight hours are reversed and some areas can experience 24 hours darkness. Rainfall is something you should be prepared for situated above the north pacific showers in Alaska can be frequent and occur without warning but generally don’t last to long.

Winters are cold and extreme; you are talking about a state that has large areas lying within the artic circle and mountains in the Denali national park that exceed 20000 ft (including mt McKinley north America’s highest peak). The lowest temperature ever recorded in the United States was at Prospect Creek Camp in the Endicott Mountains of northern Alaska where the temperature dropped to -80 oF. This makes visiting large areas of the state nearly impossible in the winter months however skiing and other winter activities are easily accessible (and very highly rated) in others regions within the state.

What to wear

Summer

Like we have already mentioned Alaska has a varied climate and this should be considered when packing. During the summer months it is recommended that you take summer clothes including short sleeved shirts and even shorts however due to cool mornings and evenings a jacket is also advisable. Rain is also common being close to the north pacific and showers can be frequent and occur with little warning so waterproof covering is advisable. Also temperatures in the early and late summer season are considerably cooler than peak season so warmer clothes should be packed. Due to the nature of a holiday in Alaska and the walking that can be involved decent walking shoes or boots should also be taken and if more expert walking climbing or trekking will be done of your trip then clothing to suit these activities should be researched.