Winter
Dec → Feb-5 to -2°
nights -13 to -11°
- 4 rainy days · 18 mm
When is the best time to visit Alaska?
- Jan-5°not recommended
- Feb-2°not recommended
- Mar1°not recommended
- Apr8°not recommended
- May15°fair
- Jun19°recommended
- Jul20°recommended
- Aug19°recommended
- Sep14°fair
- Oct6°not recommended
- Nov-2°not recommended
- Dec-4°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Alaska, month by month
The table of averages, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -5° | -13° | 12 mm | 3 d | |
| February | -2° | -11° | 18 mm | 4 d | |
| March | 1° | -8° | 14 mm | 4 d | |
| April | 8° | -1° | 8 mm | 3 d | |
| May | 15° | 5° | 16 mm | 4 d | |
| June | 19° | 10° | 25 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| July | 20° | 12° | 43 mm | 8 d | ✓ |
| August | 19° | 11° | 63 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| September | 14° | 6° | 77 mm | 11 d | |
| October | 6° | -1° | 40 mm | 7 d | |
| November | -2° | -9° | 22 mm | 4 d | |
| December | -4° | -11° | 23 mm | 5 d |
The four seasons in Alaska, in figures
What the 2015-2024 averages (Anchorage) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May1 to 15°
nights -8 to 5°
- 4 rainy days · 13 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug19 to 20°
nights 10 to 12°
- 8 rainy days · 44 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov-2 to 14°
nights -9 to 6°
- 7 rainy days · 46 mm
Book early for June to August
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Alaska, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 19h18 of daylight, in December 5h30, a difference of 13h48.
6h20Jan
8h52Feb
11h33Mar
14h35Apr
17h25May
19h18Jun
18h29Jul
15h48Aug
12h46Sep
9h51Oct
7h05Nov
5h30Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Anchorage" (61.22°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Alaska, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days |
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: May, June, July
- Towns & culture: April, May, June, July, August, September
- Long days: April, May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the climate averages (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended-5°-13° at night
- 12 mm · 3 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended-2°-11° at night
- 18 mm · 4 d
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended1°-8° at night
- 14 mm · 4 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended8°-1° at night
- 8 mm · 3 d
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair15°5° at night
- 16 mm · 4 d
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended19°10° at night
- 25 mm · 6 d
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended20°12° at night
- 43 mm · 8 d
High season, book early
August
Recommended19°11° at night
- 63 mm · 11 d
High season, book early
September
Fair14°6° at night
- 77 mm · 11 d
Low season, lower prices
October
Not recommended6°-1° at night
- 40 mm · 7 d
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended-2°-9° at night
- 22 mm · 4 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended-4°-11° at night
- 23 mm · 5 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: -5 °C at the warmest of the day, -13 °C at night. Hardly any rain (12 mm over 3 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: -2 °C at the warmest of the day, -11 °C at night. Rain stays light: 18 mm over 4 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Deep winter: 1 °C at the warmest of the day, -8 °C at night. Rain stays light: 14 mm over 4 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 8 °C at best, -1 °C at night. Hardly any rain (8 mm over 3 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 15 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Rain stays light: 16 mm over 4 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 25 mm over 6 days. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (43 mm). High season: book early.
August. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (63 mm). High season: book early.
September. Cool: 14 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (77 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. Deep winter: 6 °C at the warmest of the day, -1 °C at night. Rain stays light: 40 mm over 7 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Deep winter: -2 °C at the warmest of the day, -9 °C at night. Rain stays light: 22 mm over 4 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: -4 °C at the warmest of the day, -11 °C at night. Rain stays light: 23 mm over 5 days. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Alaska?
June to August: over these months, average highs range from 19 to 20 °C, with 8 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 averages, Anchorage).
Which month should you avoid in Alaska?
October: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 40 mm over 7 days of rain on average over 2015-2024 at the reference point (Anchorage).
What is the hottest month in Alaska?
July, with 20 °C on average in the afternoon and 12 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (Anchorage).
What is the coldest month in Alaska?
January, with -5 °C at best during the day and -13 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (Anchorage).
What is the driest month in Alaska?
April: 8 mm over 3 days of rain, against 77 mm in September, the wettest month.
When is the best time to hike in Alaska?
May, June, July: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month on 2015-2024 averages (Anchorage), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Alaska guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit the American West: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Marije Kouyzer / Pexels · Grand Teton / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons) · Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · diverus from U.S. A. / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Ferdinand31618 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)