Alaska Climate

Alaska is known for its extreme climate. Summers are short and mild, while winters tend to be long and cold. The average summer temperature in Alaska is around 55 - 65°F, with occasional spikes that can reach up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are much colder, with temperatures ranging from 0 to 25°F. Precipitation levels vary across the state, though most areas receive an average of 30-50 inches of rain or snow each year. This weather is perfect for outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, ice fishing, and other winter sports.

Alaska, Alaska gets 31 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

Alaska averages 74 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.

On average, there are 121 sunny days per year in Alaska. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Alaska gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 143 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 64 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 3
Rain: averages 31 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 74 inches of snow a year

Bestplaces Comfort Index

Alaska's annual BestPlaces Comfort Index of 4.9 (10=best) indicates it is one of the least comfortable states in the United States.

7.7 Summer - 2.4 Winter

July, June and August are the most pleasant months in the state of Alaska, while December and January are the least comfortable months.

Climate	Alaska, Alaska	United States
	Unlock	38.1 in.
	73.9 in.	Unlock
	Unlock	106.2 days
	121 days	Unlock
	63.9°	85.8°
	Unlock	21.7°
	4.9	Unlock
	Unlock	4.3
	1668 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 Alaska with an average high temperature of 63.9°, which ranks it as one of the coolest states. In Alaska, there are 0 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Alaska are July, August and June.

Alaska has 0.0 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is one of the coolest states in the U.S.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Alaska with an average of 2.6°. This is one of the coldest of the U.S. states.

Alaska has 198.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is one of the coldest states in the U.S.

Alaska averages 60.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is one of the coldest states in the U.S.

Humidity is low in the state of Alaska, 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.

September is the wettest month in Alaska with 4.0 inches of rain, and the driest month is April with 1.6 inches. The wettest season is Winter with 34% of yearly precipitation and 17% occurs in Summer, which is the driest season. Alaska's average annual rainfall of 31.4 inches indicates that it is drier than most states in the United States.

September is the rainiest month in Alaska with 15.3 days of rain, and April is the driest month with only 8.8 rainy days. Alaska's annual average of 142.7 days with measurable rain is one of the rainiest states in the United States. The rainiest season is Winter when it rains 29% of the time and the driest is Summer with only a 20% chance of a rainy day.

Alaska's average annual snowfall of 73.9 inches indicates that it is one of the snowiest states in the United States. December is the snowiest month in Alaska with 14.7 inches of snow, and 9 months of the year have significant snowfall.

Reviews for Alaska

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Mark · Anchorage, AK

Alaska is great

Over 3 years ago

Alaska is a gorgeous state full of kind people, wonderful landscape, good food, great places, and good schools! I have lived in Anchorage since 2019 and it is the best More

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James · Ogden, UT

Recreation in Alaska

Over 10 years ago

I have lived in Alaska for forty years, and have found many exciting places to see and things to do. I prefer outdoor activities. If you like to hunt, camp, fish and More

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Mynickname · Anchorage, AK

Like another country

Over 11 years ago

Living in Alaska is like living in another country; one that is behind the times by more than 20 years, at least. The roads are bad; the government and police corrupt; More