Climate of Anchorage
Temperature
Averages
Average daytime summer temperatures range from approximately 55 to 78 °F (12.8 to 25.6 °C);[4] average daytime winter temperatures are about 5 to 30 °F (−15.0 to −1.1 °C).[4] Anchorage has a frost-free growing season that averages slightly over one hundred days. Average January low and high temperatures at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (PANC) are 11 / 23 °F (−11.7 / −5.0 °C) with an average winter snowfall of 75.59 inches, or 1.92 meters. Farther afield at the Campbell Airstrip is another weather station recording colder night temperatures in both summer and winter.[4]
Average July low and high temperatures are 52 / 66 °F (11.1 / 18.9 °C) and the hottest reading ever recorded was 90 °F or 32.2 °C on July 4, 2019.[5]
Highest daily temperatures
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Lowest daily temperatures
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Daily record warm minima
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Daily record cold maxima
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Precipitation
Rainfall
Between 2000 and 2022 the annual rainfall in Anchorage was 16.7 inches.[6] The months with the highest average mean of rain were August and September, each having an annual mean of 2.75 inches (August) and 3.24 inches (September).
Snowfall
For snowfall, the annual mean average for 2000 to 2022 was 76.4 inches;[7] the highest snowfall season being 2011 - 2012 with 134.5 inches, and the lowest season being 25.1 inches in 2015.
Climate change
Based on the ERA5 data published by
Anchorage
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Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Notable climate events
Due to its proximity to active
On March 17, 2002, there was a storm that caused 28.6 in of snow to close schools for two days.[11] The storm broke the city record for the most snowfall in a single day. The storm beat the previous record from 1955 on March 16, which was just 15.6 inches. The National Weather Service also recorded this same snow data.[12]
Classifications
Climatic scheme | Initials | Description |
---|---|---|
Köppen system[13] | Dfc | Continental subarctic climate[a] |
Trewartha system[14][15] | E | Boreal climate
|
Alisov system[16] | — | Temperate climate[b] |
Strahler system[17] | — | Boreal forest climate
|
Thornthwaite system[18] | B1 C'1
|
Humid and microthermal |
Neef system[19][20] | — | West side/maritime climate |
Trends in temperature, precipitation, and daylight hours
NWS office/international airport
Climate data for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Alaska (1991−2020 normals,[21] extremes 1953−present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 50 (10) |
49 (9) |
53 (12) |
69 (21) |
77 (25) |
85 (29) |
90 (32) |
82 (28) |
73 (23) |
64 (18) |
54 (12) |
51 (11) |
90 (32) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 41.8 (5.4) |
42.7 (5.9) |
44.2 (6.8) |
56.3 (13.5) |
69.5 (20.8) |
74.5 (23.6) |
76.0 (24.4) |
73.7 (23.2) |
65.0 (18.3) |
54.8 (12.7) |
42.7 (5.9) |
42.3 (5.7) |
77.7 (25.4) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 22.7 (−5.2) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
33.0 (0.6) |
45.1 (7.3) |
56.3 (13.5) |
63.4 (17.4) |
66.2 (19.0) |
64.0 (17.8) |
55.7 (13.2) |
42.0 (5.6) |
28.9 (−1.7) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
44.1 (6.7) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 16.9 (−8.4) |
21.3 (−5.9) |
25.8 (−3.4) |
37.5 (3.1) |
48.1 (8.9) |
55.9 (13.3) |
59.6 (15.3) |
57.5 (14.2) |
49.3 (9.6) |
36.3 (2.4) |
23.6 (−4.7) |
19.4 (−7.0) |
37.6 (3.1) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11.0 (−11.7) |
15.2 (−9.3) |
18.6 (−7.4) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
40.0 (4.4) |
48.4 (9.1) |
52.9 (11.6) |
50.9 (10.5) |
42.9 (6.1) |
30.7 (−0.7) |
18.3 (−7.6) |
13.8 (−10.1) |
31.0 (−0.6) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −9.3 (−22.9) |
−3.6 (−19.8) |
1.2 (−17.1) |
17.6 (−8.0) |
30.7 (−0.7) |
40.5 (4.7) |
46.7 (8.2) |
42.7 (5.9) |
30.9 (−0.6) |
16.1 (−8.8) |
0.8 (−17.3) |
−4.9 (−20.5) |
−13.2 (−25.1) |
Record low °F (°C) | −34 (−37) |
−28 (−33) |
−24 (−31) |
−4 (−20) |
17 (−8) |
33 (1) |
36 (2) |
31 (−1) |
19 (−7) |
−5 (−21) |
−21 (−29) |
−30 (−34) |
−34 (−37) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.75 (19) |
0.86 (22) |
0.69 (18) |
0.43 (11) |
0.65 (17) |
1.02 (26) |
1.82 (46) |
2.93 (74) |
3.10 (79) |
1.82 (46) |
1.19 (30) |
1.16 (29) |
16.42 (417) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 12.4 (31) |
13.4 (34) |
11.0 (28) |
4.0 (10) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
5.6 (14) |
12.6 (32) |
18.2 (46) |
77.9 (198) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.1 | 7.9 | 6.0 | 4.9 | 6.5 | 8.6 | 11.7 | 14.4 | 14.9 | 11.5 | 9.8 | 10.8 | 115.1 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 8.8 | 7.8 | 6.1 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 7.7 | 10.8 | 47.5 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
73.4 | 71.4 | 66.1 | 64.3 | 61.6 | 65.6 | 71.4 | 75.1 | 75.9 | 74.5 | 77.1 | 77.1 | 71.1 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 8.1 (−13.3) |
11.1 (−11.6) |
15.4 (−9.2) |
24.1 (−4.4) |
33.4 (0.8) |
42.4 (5.8) |
48.6 (9.2) |
47.8 (8.8) |
40.6 (4.8) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
15.3 (−9.3) |
10.6 (−11.9) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 82.9 | 120.5 | 195.8 | 235.3 | 288.7 | 274.7 | 250.1 | 203.9 | 159.8 | 117.1 | 80.6 | 51.8 | 2,061.2 |
Percent possible sunshine | 41 | 48 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 48 | 44 | 42 | 41 | 38 | 37 | 30 | 46 |
Average ultraviolet index | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990)[22][23][24] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV)[25] |
Climate data for Anchorage | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average sea temperature °F (°C) | 36.9 (2.8) |
35.8 (2.1) |
36.1 (2.3) |
37.5 (3.0) |
42.4 (5.8) |
47.7 (8.8) |
52.4 (11.3) |
53.1 (11.7) |
51.6 (10.9) |
47.5 (8.6) |
43.0 (6.1) |
39.6 (4.2) |
43.6 (6.5) |
Mean daily daylight hours | 7.0 | 9.0 | 12.0 | 15.0 | 18.0 | 19.0 | 18.0 | 16.0 | 13.0 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 12.5 |
Source: Weather Atlas[25] |
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
See or edit raw graph data.
Campbell airstrip
Climate data for Campbell airstrip (Anchorage Alaska) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 20 (−7) |
26 (−3) |
35 (2) |
45 (7) |
58 (14) |
66 (19) |
68 (20) |
65 (18) |
55 (13) |
41 (5) |
26 (−3) |
22 (−6) |
44 (7) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 2 (−17) |
4 (−16) |
9 (−13) |
22 (−6) |
33 (1) |
41 (5) |
47 (8) |
44 (7) |
35 (2) |
22 (−6) |
7 (−14) |
5 (−15) |
23 (−5) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 10 (25) |
16 (41) |
18 (46) |
9 (23) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
9 (23) |
11 (28) |
2 (5.1) |
75.2 (191.61) |
Source: NOAA[4] |
Merrill Field
Climate data for Merrill Field (1991−2020 normals,[c] extremes 1914−present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 56 (13) |
57 (14) |
56 (13) |
71 (22) |
92 (33) |
100 (38) |
93 (34) |
90 (32) |
73 (23) |
67 (19) |
62 (17) |
54 (12) |
100 (38) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 42.5 (5.8) |
44.0 (6.7) |
45.2 (7.3) |
58.4 (14.7) |
71.2 (21.8) |
76.7 (24.8) |
79.0 (26.1) |
76.5 (24.7) |
66.2 (19.0) |
56.3 (13.5) |
43.5 (6.4) |
44.5 (6.9) |
80.5 (26.9) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 22.6 (−5.2) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
34.4 (1.3) |
47.1 (8.4) |
58.4 (14.7) |
65.7 (18.7) |
68.4 (20.2) |
65.7 (18.7) |
56.8 (13.8) |
42.5 (5.8) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
24.7 (−4.1) |
45.3 (7.4) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 15.4 (−9.2) |
20.2 (−6.6) |
25.6 (−3.6) |
38.8 (3.8) |
49.7 (9.8) |
57.7 (14.3) |
61.1 (16.2) |
58.5 (14.7) |
49.8 (9.9) |
36.4 (2.4) |
22.6 (−5.2) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
37.8 (3.2) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 8.2 (−13.2) |
12.4 (−10.9) |
16.9 (−8.4) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
41.1 (5.1) |
49.7 (9.8) |
53.9 (12.2) |
51.3 (10.7) |
42.8 (6.0) |
30.3 (−0.9) |
16.3 (−8.7) |
11.3 (−11.5) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −10.8 (−23.8) |
−5.6 (−20.9) |
−1.5 (−18.6) |
16.7 (−8.5) |
32.0 (0.0) |
41.9 (5.5) |
47.2 (8.4) |
42.2 (5.7) |
30.3 (−0.9) |
15.7 (−9.1) |
−1.1 (−18.4) |
−7.3 (−21.8) |
−15.0 (−26.1) |
Record low °F (°C) | −35 (−37) |
−38 (−39) |
−20 (−29) |
−21 (−29) |
1 (−17) |
29 (−2) |
34 (1) |
31 (−1) |
19 (−7) |
−6 (−21) |
−22 (−30) |
−36 (−38) |
−38 (−39) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.46 (12) |
0.71 (18) |
0.54 (14) |
0.30 (7.6) |
0.62 (16) |
0.99 (25) |
1.70 (43) |
2.48 (63) |
3.02 (77) |
1.57 (40) |
0.88 (22) |
0.89 (23) |
14.16 (360) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.0 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 9.9 | 12.4 | 15.6 | 15.0 | 11.4 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 109.2 |
Source: NOAA[26][27] |
Notes
- ^ Or only subarctic climate
- ^ Mid-latitude temperate interior climate
- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
References
- ^ Alsworth, Mailing Address: PO Box 227 Port; Us, AK 99653 Phone: 907 644-3626 Contact. "Dena'ina Athabascan Culture - Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Society, National Geographic (2019-10-24). "Köppen Climate Classification System". National Geographic Society. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- ^ "Shortest Day In Alaska | Hours of Daylight & Winter Darkness Fun Facts". ALASKA.ORG. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- ^ a b c d
"NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". NOAA. 2023-06-26.
- ^ a b "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Climate". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
- ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Climate". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "ERA5 Climate Change Data". Oikolab. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "Municipality of Anchorage". Municipality of Anchorage. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "Mt. Spurr's 1992 Eruptions". 2008-12-09. Archived from the original on 9 December 2008. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "Anchorage Receives Record Snowfall". www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 2002-03-19. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- ^ "National Weather Service, Anchorage Forecast Office Climate". 2011-07-28. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "Anchorage - University of Alaska, Alaska Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ^ "GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL ZONING FOR THE GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES ASSESSMENT 2000". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
- ^ "Trewartha maps". kkh.ltrr.arizona.edu. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ^ Cmapm, Kliimavöötmed svg: Urmasderivative work (2011-06-16), Русский: Климатические пояса Земли по Б. П. Алисову., retrieved 2019-07-01
- ^ "World Strahler Climate Map".
- S2CID 128745497.
- ^ "Klimaklassifikation". www.spektrum.de (in German). Retrieved 2019-07-01.
- ^ "Klimazonen nach E. Neef (1989)". Klett-Perthes.
- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
- ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ^ "Station: Anchorage INTL AP, AK". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2023-07-14. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ^ "WMO climate normals for Anchorage/INTL, AK 1961−1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2023-07-14. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ a b "Anchorage, Alaska, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- ^ "Station: ANCHORAGE MERRILL FLD, AK". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2023-08-30. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 30, 2023.