Theclimate of Alaska is determined by average temperatures and precipitation received statewide over many years. The extratropical storm track runs along theAleutian Island chain, across theAlaska Peninsula, and along the coastal area of theGulf of Alaska which exposes these parts of the state to a large majority of the storms crossing theNorth Pacific. The climate inJuneau and thesoutheast panhandle is a mid-latitudeoceanic climate (similar toScotland, orHaida Gwaii), (KöppenCfb) in the southern sections and a subarctic oceanic climate (KöppenCfc) in the northern parts.

The climate inSouthcentral Alaska is asubarctic climate (KöppenDfc) due to its short, cool summers. The climate of theinterior of Alaska is best described as extreme and is the best example of a true subarctic climate, as the highest and lowest temperatures of any of these countries have a significant influence over climate and weather conditions and climate conditions and are generally considered the best conditions in this area for recorded temperatures in Alaska have both occurred in the interior. The climate in the very far north of Alaska is anArctic climate (KöppenET) with long, cold winters, and cool summers where snow is possible year-round.

The climate in Juneau and the Southeast panhandle is a mid-latitudeoceanic climate (Köppen climate classificationCfb) in the southern sections and an oceanic, marine subpolar climate (similar toScotland, orHaida Gwaii), (KöppenCfc) in the northern parts. Much of the southern parts aretemperate rainforest. On an annual basis, southern portions are both the wettest and warmest part of Alaska, with milder temperatures in the winter and high precipitation throughout the year. Average monthly precipitation is generally highest in the autumn months, especially October, and lowest in May or June. This is the only region in Alaska in which the average daytime high temperature is above freezing during the winter months, except for in the southern parts of theAleutian Islands such asUnalaska.

The climate in south central Alaska, withAnchorage as a typical city, is mild by Alaskan standards. This is due in large part to its proximity to the coast. While it does not get nearly as much rain as the southeast of Alaska, it does get more snow, and days tend to be clearer there. It is a subarctic climate (KöppenDfc) due to its short, cool summers. There are frequent, strong southeast winds known as theKnik wind in the vicinity ofPalmer, especially in the winter months.^[1]

The climate of Western Alaska is determined largely by theBering Sea and theGulf of Alaska. It is a subarctic oceanic climate in the southwest and a continental subarctic climate farther north. The temperature is somewhat moderate considering how far north the area is. This area has a tremendous amount of variety, especially when considering precipitation. The northern side of theSeward Peninsula is technically a desert with less than 10 inches (254 mm) of precipitation annually, while some locations between Dillingham and Bethel average around 100 inches (2,540 mm) of precipitation.^[2]

The climate of the east of Alaska is best described as extreme and is an excellent example of a true continental subarctic climate. Some of the hottest and coldest temperatures in Alaska occur around the area nearFairbanks. The summers can have temperatures reaching into the 90s °F (near 34 °C). In the winter, the temperature can fall below −50 °F (−45.6 °C), and in rare cases, below −60 °F (−51.1 °C). Precipitation is generally sparse around the year, peaking during the summer months, and virtually all precipitation between October and April falls as snow. Ice fog is a significant hazard during especially cold periods between November and March.^[3]

The climate in the extreme north of Alaska is what would be expected for an area north of theArctic Circle. It is anArctic climate (KöppenEF) with long, very cold winters and short, cool summers. The sun does not rise at all during some weeks in the winter, and is out for 24 hours during some weeks in the summer. Despite 24 hours of sunshine in the summertime, the average low temperature is barely above freezing inUtqiaġvik in July, at 36 °F (2.2 °C) and snow may fall any month of the year.^[4] North Alaska is the coldest region in Alaska.^[3]

Anchorage Utqiaġvik Fairbanks Fort Yukon Juneau Sitka Craig Kodiak Kotzebue Nome Unalaska St. Paul

The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in Alaska are both in the Interior. The highest is 100 °F (37.8 °C) inFort Yukon on June 27, 1915.^[5][6][7][8] The lowest Alaska temperature is −80 °F (−62.2 °C) inProspect Creek on January 23, 1971,^[5][6] 1 °F (0.6 °C) above the lowest temperature recorded in continental North America (inSnag, Yukon, Canada).^[9] Alaska holds the extreme US record low temperatures for every month except September, whereBig Piney,Wyoming recorded −15 °F or −26.1 °C on September 20, 1983. The coldest temperature recorded in Alaska in September was −13 °F or −25 °C in Arctic Village on September 30, 1970.

Juneau averages over 50 inches (1,270 mm) of precipitation a year, while some other areas in southeastAlaska receive as much as 275 inches (6,980 mm). Average monthly precipitation generally peaks in September or October, and is lowest in May and June. Owing to therain shadow of the coastal mountains, south-central Alaska does not get nearly as much rain as the southeast of Alaska, though it does get more snow, with up to 300 inches (7.62 m) atValdez and much more in the mountains.^[12]

On average, Anchorage receives 16 inches (410 mm) of precipitation a year, with around 75 inches (1.91 m) of snow. The northern coast of theGulf of Alaska receives up to 150 inches (3,810.0 mm) of precipitation annually.^[12] Across the western sections of the state, the northern side of the Seward Peninsula is a desert with less than 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation annually, while some locations betweenDillingham andBethel average around 100 inches (2,540 mm) of precipitation.^[13]

Inland, often less than 10 inches (254 mm) falls a year and on theNorth Slope as little as 4 inches (100 mm) of rainfall equivalent and 30 inches (0.76 m) of snow is typical, but what snow falls during the winter tends to stay throughout the season.^[2] Thunderstorms are fairly rare in most of Alaska, but do occur in the interior in the summer with some frequency and may cause wildfires. Anchorage gets a thunderstorm every few years. There has even been the rare thunderstorm in Utqiaġvik on the Arctic coast.^[14] While weak tornadoes and waterspouts, while extremely rare, do sometimes occur, Alaska is considered the least tornado-prone state in the United States.

La Niña events lead to drier and cooler than normal conditions, whileEl Niño events leads to warmer than normal temperatures but do not have a correlation towards dry or wet conditions. Precipitation increases by 10–40% when thePacific decadal oscillation is positive.^[15]

• List of Alaska tropical cyclones
• List of Alaska tornadoes

• Climate of Alaska
• Climate of the United States by state

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