Climate of Alaska

The climate in Juneau and the southeast panhandle is best described as a "cooler version of Seattle." It is a mid-latitude oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) in the southern sections and a sub arctic oceanic climate (Köppen Cfc) in the northern parts. On an annual basis, this is both the wettest and warmest part of Alaska with milder temperatures in the winter and high precipitation throughout the year. Juneau averages over  inches ( mm) of precipitation a year, while other areas receive over  inches ( mm).^[1] This is also the only region in Alaska in which the average daytime high temperature is above freezing during the winter months.

The climate in south central Alaska, with Anchorage 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, although days tend to be clearer here. On average, Anchorage receives  inches ( mm) of precipitation a year, with around  inches ( mm) of snow, although there are areas in the south central which receive far more snow. It is a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) due to its short, cool summers.

Barrow, Alaska is the northernmost city in the United States.

The climate of Western Alaska is determined in large part by the Bering Sea and the Gulf 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 the Seward Peninsula is technically a desert with less than  inches ( mm) of precipitation annually, while some locations between Dillingham and Bethel average around  inches ( mm) of precipitation.^[1]

The climate of the interior of Alaska is best described as extreme and is the best example of a true subarctic climate. Some of the hottest and coldest temperatures in Alaska occur around the area near Fairbanks. The summers can have temperatures reaching into the 80s°F (near 30 °C), while in the winter, the temperature can fall below −60 °F (-52 °C). Precipitation is not much in the Interior, often less than  inches ( mm) a year, but what precipitation falls in the winter tends to stay the entire winter.

The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in Alaska are both in the Interior. The highest is 100 °F (38 °C) in Fort Yukon on June 27, 1915,^[2][3] tied with Pahala, Hawaii as the lowest high temperature in the United States.^[4][5] The lowest Alaska temperature is −80 °F (-64 °C) in Prospect Creek on January 23, 1971,^[2][3] one degree above the lowest temperature recorded in North America (in Snag, Yukon, Canada).^[6]

The climate in the extreme north of Alaska is what would be expected for an area north of the Arctic Circle. It is an Arctic climate (Köppen ET) with long, very cold winters and short, cool summers. Even in July, the average low temperature is barely above freezing in Barrow, at 34 °F (2 °C).^[7] Precipitation is light in this part of Alaska, with many places averaging less than  inches ( mm) per year, mostly in the form of snow which stays on the ground during much of the year.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Mean Annual Precipitation in Alaska-Yukon. Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University. Last accessed 23 October 2006.
2. ^ ^{a b} NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards Information - Alaska Weather Interesting Facts and Records (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
3. ^ ^{a b} State Extremes. Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
4. ^ SD Weather History and Trivia for May: May 1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
5. ^ FAQ ALASKA - Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska: Weather. Statewide Library Electronic Doorway, University of Alaska Fairbanks (2005-01-17). Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
6. ^ Ned Rozell (2003-01-23). The Coldest Place in North America. Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
7. ^ History for Barrow, Alaska. Monthly Summary for July 2006. [[Weather Underground (weather service)|]]. Last accessed 23 October 2006.

	State of Alaska Juneau (capital)
Topics	Geography | Climate | Wildlife | History | Demographics | Transportation | Government | Music | Economy | Culture
Regions	Aleutian Islands | Arctic Alaska | Bush Alaska | Interior | Kenai Peninsula | Mat‑Su Valley | North Slope | Panhandle | Seward Peninsula | Southcentral | Southwest | Tanana Valley | Yukon‑Kuskokwim Delta
Largest cities	Anchorage | Barrow | Bethel | Dillingham | Fairbanks | Homer | Juneau | Kenai | Ketchikan | Kodiak | Kotzebue | Nome | Palmer | Petersburg | Seward | Sitka | Unalaska | Valdez | Wasilla
Boroughs	Aleutians East | Anchorage | Bristol Bay | Denali | Fairbanks North Star | Haines | Juneau | Kenai Peninsula | Ketchikan Gateway | Kodiak Island | Lake and Peninsula | Matanuska‑Susitna | North Slope | Northwest Arctic | Sitka | Yakutat | Unorganized
Census Areas	Aleutians West | Bethel | Dillingham | Nome | Prince of Wales‑Outer Ketchikan | Skagway‑Hoonah‑Angoon | Southeast Fairbanks | Valdez‑Cordova | Wade Hampton | Wrangell‑Petersburg | Yukon‑Koyukuk

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