Alaska Snow Report | OnTheSnow (2024)

FAQs

Is there a lot of snow in Alaska? ›

Alaska's annual average snowfall total is 219". The table below shows the snow cover in Alaska. Note that snowpack levels across Alaska aren't reported during the off-season period.

Anchorage set several daily and monthly snowfall records this winter, with more than 10 feet of snow dropping on town. But it doesn't look likely the city will break its all-time record of 134.5 inches of total snowfall for the season.

The snowiest state of all is New Hampshire, which gets an average of 174.35 inches of snow each year. This is followed by Maine, which gets 92 inches annually and Vermont, with 80.2 inches. Alaska and Wyoming come next, with 79.6 and 77.33 inches respectively.

Alyeska, Alaska – Alyeska Resort is the first ski area in the United States to hit 500″ of snow on the 2023/24 ski season. The resort's total snowfall on the season is sitting at 511″ with more moisture on the way.

Alaska is on track to break snowfall records after Anchorage was blanketed with more than 100 inches − the earliest accumulation ever of that amount − collapsing roofs and closing schools.

In the winter of 1952–1953, 974.1 inches or 25 metres of snow fell—the most ever recorded in one season at one location in Alaska. It is not the most snow ever recorded in one season at one location anywhere in the fifty states as that record belongs to Mount Baker Ski Resort at 1,140 inches or 29 metres in 1998–99.

Update, 9:30 a.m. Monday: Anchorage received 0.2 inches of snow late Friday after this interview, bringing the 2023-2024 winter total to 132.6 inches and tying 1954-1955 as the second-snowiest winter on record, according to the National Weather Service.

10, 1969 - 3 inches) and Tok (Aug. 13, 1969 - 3.2 inches). Snow even reached the typically-milder Alaskan coast in August. Yakutat, about 200 miles west-northwest of Juneau, once measured snow on August 31, 1922 (1.5 inches).

1. Syracuse, New York. When it comes to the snowiest cities in the USA, Syracuse most certainly claims the throne with almost 11 feet of snow each winter!

Freshly melted snow is generally considered to be safe to drink without further treatment, however it should not be assumed that because water is frozen that it is safe to drink.

Which ski resort is getting the most snow? ›

Now for the fun part — Alyeska claims a mighty 16.9 meters (55.4 feet) of average snowfall yearly, making it the snowiest ski resort on earth! And because of the low elevation, that's both at the top and bottom of the mountain.

The melting of Alaska's Juneau icefield, home to more than 1,000 glaciers, is accelerating. The snow covered area is now shrinking 4.6 times faster than it was in the 1980s, according to a new study.

Alyeska averages 650″ of snowfall on the upper mountain and 512″ of snowfall at mid-mountain. The biggest year on record was 2012 when it got 978″ of snowfall. The world record for a ski area is 1,140″ at Mt. Baker ski area, WA, in 1998/99.

The summer season is a short one in Alaska, and the weather becomes even more variable in mid-August as fall approaches. Rain is always a possibility in the summer, and snow has been known to make an appearance as well. Winter is long—October through April—snowy and cold.

The southern and coastal regions of Alaska can also be cloudy with some rain showers throughout the year, with average summer temperatures ranging from 40°F to 60°F (4° – 15°C). Winter temperatures in Alaska range from 0°F / -18°C to -30°F / -35°C from November to March.

The climate in the extreme north of Alaska is an Arctic climate (Köppen ET) with long, cold winters, and cool summers where snow is possible year-round.

Yes, July is a great month to visit Alaska. The season is in full swing, and you will find lots of activities to enjoy. In July, the trails are free of snow, and it is a great month for hiking. There is lots of daylight, and the weather is generally warm.