The weather of Alaska is as varied as its many regions, from the wet summers of the Southeast region to the extremes of the interior. To be best prepared for travel to the Land of the Midnight Sun, here are some easy details of summer and winter temperatures, daylight hours and annual precipitation in each region.
Southeast The southeast region of Alaska is well known for its rain – in fact, it is thought that the wettest place on earth is in the coastal mountains of southeast Alaska. But it is also the warmest part of Alaska with milder temperatures than in the rest of the state.
Average summer temperatures peak in July at between 48ºF and 64º F
Average winter temperatures dip to between 18ºF and 28ºF in January
Daylight hours reach 17 hours/day in June and fall to 7 hours/day in December
Annual precipitation 61.38 inches
Southcentral On average, southcentral Alaska is drier than the southeast, but it receives more snow.
Average summer temperatures peak in July at between 52ºF and 65º F
Average winter temperatures dip to between 8ºF and 22ºF in January
Daylight hours reach 18 hours/day in June and fall to 6 hours/day in December
Annual precipitation 11.3 inches to 24.63 inches
Southwest The weather in southwest Alaska can vary from one extreme to the other, from the very dry conditions on the northern side of the Seward Peninsula to the very wet climate of other areas like Kodiak Island, also known as Alaska's Emerald Isle because of the rain that creates a lush green landscape in the summer months.
Average summer temperatures peak in July at between 48ºF and 62º F
Average winter temperatures dip to between 10ºF and -2ºF in January
Daylight hours reach 22 hours/day in June and fall to 4 hours/day in December.
Annual precipitation 18.52 inches
Interior The interior of Alaska enjoys extremes of temperatures from summers at over 80ºF to winter lows of -60ºF, but there is little precipitation and what occurs tends to fall in the winter.
Average summer temperatures peak in July at between 52ºF and 72º F
Average winter temperatures dip to between - 3ºF and -18ºF in January
Daylight hours reach 22 hours/day in June and fall to 4 hours/day in December.
Annual precipitation 10.72 inches
Far North Though precipitation is low in the far north of Alaska (Barrow, one of the driest areas of the state with an average of about six inches of precipitation each year), the Arctic climate guarantees long, cold winters and short, cool summers.
Average summer temperatures peak in July at between 33º F and 45º F
Average winter temperatures dip to between -13ºF and -23ºF in February
Daylight hours reach 24 hours/day in June and fall to 0 hours/day in December.
Annual precipitation 5.46 inches
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