Anchorage Weather, When to Go and Climate Information

(Anchorage, Alaska - AK, USA)

Anchorage's climate and weather is known for being variable and often milder than most people expect. At times, Anchorage can be surprisingly warm, due to its location close to the Pacific Ocean, south of the Arctic Circle, and also by being sheltered by the nearby Chugach Mountains. Strong winds are therefore generally uncommon in Anchorage.

The peak tourist season in the Anchorage area is from July to August, when the summer weather is at its warmest. May, June and September still offer a fairly mild climate, when the area is less crowded and accommodation is usually cheaper.


Temperatures on high hiking trails and at the top of nearby mountains, such as Mount Alyeska, are often colder, and so it is always worth wearing a jacket in these conditions. Days are long during Anchorage's summer months and temperatures can reach up to 18°C / 64°F, or higher, with low humidity make the summer weather and climate particularly comfortable. In the height of summer, nights in Anchorage hardly get dark at all, particularly during the month of June.

Winter weather in Anchorage if often fairly mild, with gentle snowfalls, shorter days and chilly nights. The average annual snowfall in the Anchorage area is 178 cm / 70 inches and the lack of strong winds makes the winter climate feel warmer. During Anchorage's winter months, the sun is lower and the nights darker, making conditions ideal for viewing the famous Aurora Borealis / Northern Lights.

The average annual rainfall / precipitation in Anchorage is 40 cm / 16 inches.

Anchorage Weather and Climate Chart (Averages)

The following are the normal daily temperature ranges for Anchorage:

	Maximum	Minimum
January	-6°C / 21°F	-13°C / 9°F
February	-3°C / 27°F	-11°C / 12°F
March	0.5°C / 33°F	-7°C / 19°F
April	6°C / 43°F	-2°C / 28°F
May	12°C / 54°F	4°C / 39°F
June	16°C / 61°F	8°C / 46°F
July	18°C / 64°F	11°C / 52°F
August	17°C / 63°F	10°C / 50°F
September	13°C / 55°F	5°C / 41°F
October	5°C / 41°F	-2°C / 28°F
November	-2.5°C / 28°F	-9°C / 16°F
December	-5°C / 23°F	-12°C / 10°F

Anchorage Weather Charts - further Anchorage climate statistics and charts.