Anchorage, AK Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Anchorage
A 24°C spread between its warmest and coolest months puts Anchorage among the more strongly seasonal places we cover. July averages 67°F (20°C) by day; January averages 21°F (-6°C), with nights at 12°F (-11°C).
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 67°F (20°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 21°F (-6°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 90°F (32°C) high · -20°F (-29°C) low
- Wettest month: September (17 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (12.6 h sun/day)
- Climate type: subarctic
- Annual swing: 24°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 7°C
- Snow: about 50 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 6
- Average humidity: 77%
Temperatures through the year
At its warmest, in July, Anchorage runs to 67°F (20°C) in the afternoon and back to 54°F (12°C) by dawn. January is the coolest month, with highs of 21°F (-6°C) and lows near 12°F (-11°C). Between the average July and the average January lie 24°C, a wider spread than roughly 80% of the cities we track.
Rain, sun and snow
June is the brightest month at 12.6 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 7.1 - duller than almost anywhere else we cover. Snow falls on roughly 50 days a year, mostly September through April. Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 6 months, November through April. Precipitation concentrates in September - 5.0 inches (128 mm) on 17 days - and thins out by April. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 90°F (32°C) and bottoms at -20°F (-29°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Anchorage compares
- Anchorage averages 38°F (3°C) across the year - cooler than almost every other city we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21° | 12° | 11 | 2.1 in | 2.8 h/day | 6.3 h | 35% | 83% |
| February | 25° | 15° | 12 | 2.4 in | 4.5 h/day | 8.9 h | 42% | 81% |
| March | 33° | 19° | 9 | 1.6 in | 7.5 h/day | 11.5 h | 30% | 75% |
| April | 45° | 28° | 8 | 1.3 in | 10.0 h/day | 14.6 h | 28% | 72% |
| May | 56° | 40° | 12 | 1.8 in | 11.3 h/day | 17.4 h | 38% | 69% |
| June | 65° | 50° | 10 | 1.8 in | 12.6 h/day | 19.3 h | 32% | 67% |
| July | 67° | 54° | 12 | 3.8 in | 10.8 h/day | 18.5 h | 40% | 74% |
| August | 64° | 52° | 16 | 4.7 in | 8.8 h/day | 15.8 h | 51% | 78% |
| September | 55° | 44° | 17 | 5.0 in | 6.8 h/day | 12.8 h | 56% | 82% |
| October | 43° | 33° | 14 | 3.7 in | 5.0 h/day | 9.9 h | 45% | 81% |
| November | 28° | 19° | 12 | 3.0 in | 3.3 h/day | 7.1 h | 42% | 81% |
| December | 24° | 14° | 14 | 2.9 in | 1.5 h/day | 5.5 h | 45% | 84% |
Anchorage month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Anchorage's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 2.8 h
- Daylight
- 6.3 h
- Snow
- 8 days
February
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 4.5 h
- Daylight
- 8.9 h
- Snow
- 10 days
March
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 7.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.5 h
- Snow
- 6 days
April
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.6 h
- Snow
- 4 days
May
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 17.4 h
June
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 12.6 h
- Daylight
- 19.3 h
July
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 18.5 h
August
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 8.8 h
- Daylight
- 15.8 h
September
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 6.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.8 h
October
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 5.0 h
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
- Snow
- 3 days
November
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 3.3 h
- Daylight
- 7.1 h
- Snow
- 8 days
December
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 1.5 h
- Daylight
- 5.5 h
- Snow
- 10 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Anchorage
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Anchorage is chilly: 45°F (7°C) by day, 29°F (-2°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 30 days across the season, plus about 10 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Anchorage stays on the cool side of mild: 66°F (19°C) by day, 52°F (11°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 38 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.7 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Anchorage is brisk and cold: 42°F (6°C) by day, 32°F (0°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 43 of the 90 days, plus about 11 snowy days.
Winter (December through February)
Winter runs to hard cold here - highs near 23°F (-5°C), nights near 14°F (-10°C), and rain falls on around 37 of the 90 days, plus about 28 snowy days. Sun is scarce, averaging 2.9 hours a day. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.
Climate questions, answered
Is Anchorage warmer or cooler than most cities?
How sunny is Anchorage?
Is Anchorage cold in winter?
Are nights cold in Anchorage?
Best time to visit Anchorage
May to August is the sweet spot for Anchorage - these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year. Expect 63°F (17°C) in the afternoon and around 12 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
Pack for Anchorage with a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. Note the gap between afternoon and night: July pairs 67°F (20°C) with 54°F (12°C).
Anchorage temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.