Northwest Arctic Borough, AK Climate

The climate in Northwest Arctic, AK County is characterized by long, cold winters and short, mild summers. Average temperatures range from 10 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year and snowfall averages around 40 inches annually. Summers are short-lived but mild, with temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The region is also known for its strong winds and frequent storms during winter months. Precipitation levels are generally low, but due to the cold temperatures, snow can often linger on the ground for weeks at a time.

Northwest Arctic Borough County, Alaska gets 12 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

Northwest Arctic Borough County averages 64 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.

On average, there are 161 sunny days per year in Northwest Arctic Borough County. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Northwest Arctic Borough County gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 114 days per year. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground. In order for precipitation to be counted you have to get at least .01 inches on the ground to measure.

Weather Highlights

Summer High: the July high is around 62 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is -12
Rain: averages 12 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 64 inches of snow a year

Bestplaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Northwest Arctic County is 4.3 (10=best), which means it is less comfortable than most places in Alaska.

7.8 Summer - 1.6 Winter

July, June and August are the most pleasant months in Northwest Arctic County, while December and January are the least comfortable months.

Climate	Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska	United States
	Unlock	38.1 in.
	64.3 in.	Unlock
	Unlock	106.2 days
	161 days	Unlock
	61.8°	85.8°
	Unlock	21.7°
	4.3	Unlock
	Unlock	4.3
	979 ft.	Unlock

Climate

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Many people confuse weather and climate but they are different. Weather is the conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere is over long periods of time.

Weather is how the atmosphere is behaving and its effects upon life and human activities. Weather can change from minute-to-minute. Most people think of weather in terms of temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, brightness, visibility, wind, and atmospheric pressure.

Climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather in a place. Climate can mean the average weather for a particular region and time period taken over 30 years. Climate is the average of weather over time.

July is the hottest month for Northwest Arctic County with an average high temperature of 61.8°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in Alaska. In Northwest Arctic County, there are 0 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Northwest Arctic County are July, August and June.

In Northwest Arctic County, there are 0.1 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is hotter than most places in Alaska.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Northwest Arctic County with an average of -12.1°. This is colder than most places in Alaska.

In Northwest Arctic County, there are 242.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is colder than most places in Alaska.

In Northwest Arctic County, there are 111.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is colder than most places in Alaska.

Humidity is low in Northwest Arctic County, and some people might find the dryness to be uncomfortable. Days with noticeable humidity are rare throughout the year. A very dry climate can lead to cracked, itchy skin and dry eyes.

August is the wettest month in Northwest Arctic County with 2.2 inches of rain, and the driest month is March with 0.4 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 40% of yearly precipitation and 12% occurs in Summer, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 11.5 inches in Northwest Arctic County means that it is one of the driest places in Alaska.

August is the rainiest month in Northwest Arctic County with 14.1 days of rain, and May is the driest month with only 6.4 rainy days. There are 113.9 rainy days annually in Northwest Arctic County, which is less rainy than most places in Alaska. The rainiest season is Winter when it rains 29% of the time and the driest is Summer with only a 18% chance of a rainy day.

An annual snowfall of 64.3 inches in Northwest Arctic County means that it is about average compared to other places in Alaska. December is the snowiest month in Northwest Arctic County with 12.1 inches of snow, and 9 months of the year have significant snowfall.

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