Alaska Weather

Alaska Weather And Climate

The United State's largest and northernmost state is colder than the other 49 states, but the amount of cold and precipitation varies based on geography and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The state can be divided into 5 regions, with each region containing a city with a climate typical of the region. These regions are the Southeast Panhandle (Juneau), South Central (Anchorage), Western Alaska (Nome), the Interior (Fairbanks), and the North Slope (Barrow).

The Southern Panhandle, which contains Juneau, is the warmest and wettest region of Alaska. Juneau receives over 50"(125cm) of precipitation a year, while other areas in the region can get up to 275"(700cm). The average daily high is above freezing in the winter at the lower elevations, including Juneau.

Anchorage typifies the climate of South Central Alaska, with temperatures higher than interior Alaska because of its proximity to the coast. Anchorage receives less rain but more snow than the Southern panhandle, although the days are normally clear. The summers are short and cool.

The Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska moderates the climate of Western Alaska somewhat, and the amount of precipitation varies widely across the region, with the Seward Peninsula receiving less than 10"(25cm), while some other areas receive ten times that much.

The climate of Interior Alaska is truly sub artic and extreme. Summer temperatures can reach 80°F (near 30°C), whereas winter temperatures can go as low as -60°F (-52°C). Precipitation is low, but the snow that falls in the fall and winter tends to last until late spring.

The North Slope is located above the Artic Circle, and the typical low during the summer in Barrow is 34°F (2°C). Precipitation is low, but snow lasts almost the entire year. Large areas of this region are covered in permafrost.