Alaska Weather: Highs, Lows, Rain & Daylight (2024)

FAQs

What are the weather lows in Alaska? ›

Winter In Alaska

You may start seeing snow in the Interior as early as October, and temperatures may dip below -30° F during the winter months. Strangely, the Arctic is technically a desert. You'll see snow, but Utqiagvik—Alaska's northernmost community—gets less than 5 inches of rain per year.

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.

Benefits of Alaska Travel in May:

On average the month of May has the least amount of rain.

There can be up to 250 wet days per year. The normal "dry season" in Juneau is March, April, May, and June. The driest months are April and June with 2.77 inches and 3.15 inches respectively. April, May, and June usually have a few sunny periods lasting several days.

Fairbanks sees 24 hours of daylight for 70 days, from mid-May through mid-July.

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.

Average Cost of Living in Alaska: $54,331 per year

Data gathered by MERIC 2022 ranked Alaska as the state with the sixth highest cost of living. (Hawaii had the highest cost of living in the whole country.)

Interestingly, this myth was perpetrated by our science books for many years. Only the furthest north and south points have equal parts daylight and darkness throughout the year, and Alaska isn't north enough to experience six months of either extreme.

The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in Alaska are both in the Interior. The highest is 100 °F (37.8 °C) in Fort Yukon on June 27, 1915.

Use our charts to see what the weather will be like during your Alaska vacation. Quick: What are the four seasons in Alaska? Answer: Winter, June, July, and August. That timeworn classic is only partially true--May and September can also be great summer months.

What is the rainiest city in Alaska? ›

Ketchikan has a mild maritime or oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), characterized by heavy cloud cover and high humidity through much of the year and abundant rainfall throughout the year (even in the driest month), earning it the nickname of the "Rain Capital of Alaska".

Living in Alaska is a truly unique and amazing experience, unlike anywhere else in the United States. This vast, rugged state offers residents an unparalleled connection to nature, with stunning landscapes that range from towering mountain ranges to pristine coastlines.

In Alaska, the coldest temperature ever recorded was -80 degrees Fahrenheit in Prospect Creek Camp in 1971. And all but one of the 50 states have reported a temperature below zero: Hawaii, which recorded its lowest temperature of 12 degrees Fahrenheit at the Mauna Kea Observatory on May 17, 1979.

Even though it is the largest state in the US, Alaska's population is sparse. With 24-hour daylight during the summer months and 24-hour darkness during the winter, many people find Alaska to be a strange and mysterious place. Here are some debunked myths about the unusual daylight patterns of Alaska.

The best time to visit Alaska is between mid-June and mid-September.

Summer daytime temperatures range from 55° - 70° F, but you'll feel warmer due to long hours of direct sunlight. Still, know what to wear in Alaska and dress in layers. Also know that the weather gets rainier as summer progresses.