Climate of Alaska

The climate of Alaska is determined by average temperatures and precipitation received statewide over many years.

The extratropical storm track runs along the Aleutian Island chain, across the Alaska Peninsula, and along the coastal area of the Gulf of Alaska which exposes these parts of the state to a large majority of the storms crossing the North Pacific.

On an annual basis, southern portions are both the wettest and warmest part of Alaska, with milder temperatures in the winter and high precipitation throughout the year.

This is also the only region in Alaska in which the average daytime high temperature is above freezing during the winter months, except for in the southern parts of the Aleutian Islands such as Unalaska.

The climate in south central Alaska, with Anchorage as a typical city, is mild by Alaskan standards.

It is an Arctic climate (Köppen EF) with long, very cold winters and short, cool summers.

However, despite 24 hours of sunshine in the summertime, the average low temperature is barely above freezing in Utqiaġvik in July, at 36 °F (2.2 °C) and snow may fall any month of the year.

Average monthly precipitation generally peaks in September or October, and is lowest in May and June.

The northern coast of the Gulf of Alaska receives up to 150 inches (3,810.0 mm) of precipitation annually.