Best time to visit Alaska
Alaska has its best weather in June and July. Peak season is June to August.
Alaska weather by month
Average daily high and low, rainy days (1 mm or more) and hours of sunshine per day, 2015 to 2024.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°F | 12°F | 2.1 in | 11 | 2.8 h |
| February | 26°F | 15°F | 2.4 in | 12 | 4.5 h |
| March | 33°F | 19°F | 1.6 in | 9 | 7.5 h |
| April | 45°F | 28°F | 1.3 in | 9 | 10 h |
| May | 56°F | 40°F | 1.8 in | 12 | 11.3 h |
| June | 65°F | 50°F | 1.7 in | 10 | 12.6 h |
| July | 67°F | 54°F | 3.8 in | 13 | 10.8 h |
| August | 64°F | 52°F | 4.8 in | 16 | 8.8 h |
| September | 55°F | 44°F | 5 in | 17 | 6.8 h |
| October | 43°F | 33°F | 3.7 in | 14 | 5 h |
| November | 28°F | 19°F | 3 in | 13 | 3.3 h |
| December | 24°F | 15°F | 2.9 in | 14 | 1.5 h |
Alaska month by month
Alaska in January
Highs around 21°F, lows near 12°F. About 11 rainy days and 2.8 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights season
Hardest monthAlaska in February
Highs around 26°F, lows near 15°F. About 12 rainy days and 4.5 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights season · Fur Rendezvous
Hardest monthAlaska in March
Highs around 33°F, lows near 19°F. About 9 rainy days and 7.5 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights season · Fur Rendezvous · Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Hardest monthAlaska in April
Highs around 45°F, lows near 28°F. About 9 rainy days and 10 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights season
Mixed weatherAlaska in May
Highs around 56°F, lows near 40°F. About 12 rainy days and 11.3 h of sunshine a day.
Midnight sun
Mixed weatherAlaska in June
Highs around 65°F, lows near 50°F. About 10 rainy days and 12.6 h of sunshine a day.
Midnight sun · Wildfire season
Best weatherPeak seasonAlaska in July
Highs around 67°F, lows near 54°F. About 13 rainy days and 10.8 h of sunshine a day.
Midnight sun · Wildfire season
Best weatherPeak seasonAlaska in August
Highs around 64°F, lows near 52°F. About 16 rainy days and 8.8 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights season
Good weatherPeak seasonAlaska in September
Highs around 55°F, lows near 44°F. About 17 rainy days and 6.8 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights season · Fall colors
Mixed weatherAlaska in October
Highs around 43°F, lows near 33°F. About 14 rainy days and 5 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights season
Hardest monthAlaska in November
Highs around 28°F, lows near 19°F. About 13 rainy days and 3.3 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights season
Hardest monthAlaska in December
Highs around 24°F, lows near 15°F. About 14 rainy days and 1.5 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights season
Hardest month
Seasons and events
- Feb and Mar
Fur Rendezvous
Anchorage winter festival held each February, with sled dog races, snow sculptures and fireworks.
Source: Fur Rendezvous - Mar
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Ceremonial start in Anchorage on the first Saturday in March, official start the next day. Teams race about 1,000 miles to Nome.
Source: Travel Alaska - May–Jul
Midnight sun
From mid-May through mid-July, Fairbanks has about 70 straight days of daylight.
Source: Travel Alaska - Jun and Jul
Wildfire season
Alaska wildfire season typically begins in late May and ends in late July.
Source: National Park Service - Aug–Apr
Northern lights season
Fairbanks aurora season runs from late August to late April, and the city is one of the best places to see the northern lights.
Source: Travel Alaska - Sep
Fall colors
Fall arrives in September, with cooler temperatures and colorful foliage.
Source: Travel Alaska
Plan Alaska for June
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Questions about visiting Alaska
June scores highest for weather in Anchorage, with highs around 65°F and about 10 rainy days. The best stretch of the year is June and July.
September is the wettest month in Anchorage, with about 5 in of rain over 17 days. April is the driest, with about 1.3 in.
Peak season is June to August, according to Travel Alaska. The best-weather months overlap with it, so book early.
July is the warmest month in Anchorage, with average highs of 67°F. January is the coolest, at 21°F.
Climate figures are monthly averages of daily ERA5 reanalysis data for 2015 to 2024, retrieved from Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). The verdict scores each month on temperature, humidity, rain and daylight, and marks months with typhoons, hurricanes or monsoon rain down.
