Alaska Seasons

Alaska is a large state measuring 2,000 miles from the East to the West, and 1,200 miles North and South. In a state this size, there are many climates represented, and the Alaska Seasons are diverse. Across the state there are examples of extremities in polarity that occurs.

The Southeast finger of Alaska is the wettest and warmest area, where temperatures in winter are regularly above freezing, and hardy palm trees can grow. Autumn is the season with the most precipitation, and late spring is usually the driest. Winter temperatures in Juneau range from the 30s during the day, to the 20s at night. Summer temperatures are in the 60s during the day, and around 50 at night.

The Aialik Glacier near Seward

The Western Aleutian Island chain and Seward Peninsula are at the mercy of the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. Precipitation varies greatly, as the North side of the peninsula gets less than 10 inches of rain as is technically a desert. Areas around Bethel can get as much as 100 inches . Temperatures in Unalaska in the winter months are in the upper 30s, low 40s during the day, and in the upper 20s at night. Summer temperatures are in the upper 50s during the day, and in the 40s at night.

The seasons in the South around Anchorage are mild by Alaskan standards due to its coastal location. Winter temperatures average in the 20s during the day, and the teens at night. Summer temps are in the 60s during the day, and 40s at night.

The interior of Alaska, around Fairbanks has the greatest weather extremes. It is generally a drier area with rainfall in the summer, and snow from October through Spring. Wintertime temperatures range from hovering around zero during the day, to averaging in the -20s at night.. Summer temperatures are in the 60s and 70s during the day, and in the upper 40s, low 50s at night.

The Northernmost region above the Arctic Circle is typically cold year round. This is a land where in the winter months, the sun does not rise. In Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow), temperatures are in the negative teens during the day, and the minus 20s at night. In the summer, when the sun is up for 24 hours, the temps may skyrocket into the 40s during the day, and hover around freezing (30s) at night.

It should be noted that the length of day and night varies greatly with the Alaska Seasons. Anchorage typically has as much as 19-1/2 hours of daylight in the summer, and about 5-1/2 hours of daylight during the winter months.