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Alaska temperatures on the mainland peninsula go from hot in the interior, to comfortably cool, short-sleeve weather along the coastlines in the summer and cold to extremely cold in the winter. It can also get very cold in the summer, depending on the area you are in!
(The southeastern panhandle of Alaska is in a milder temperature range than I am talking about here.)
I am Enjoying the "Shirt-Sleeve" May Temperatures
If you've ever been to Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana or other northern states in the winter, Alaska temperatures do not generally get any colder than their coldest temperatures, even around the Arctic Circle. And quite commonly Alaskan temperatures can be warmer because of the warm chinook winds coming off the Pacific Ocean.
A Mild Winter Evening with Light Clothing
Alaska seasons are also similar to those northern states. There is a lot more winter than summer and seasons are very short for spring and fall.Alaskan summers are three months long - June, July and August. Autumn is about two weeks long at a maximum, and the same for spring. The rest of the year is the Alaskan winter. In the summer it might go from warm to cool or in the winter from cold to colder, but the changes are usually within 10 ° to 20 ° F. In other words, it gives you a chance to get used to the temperature change. I'm sure there will be exceptions at times, but this is the USUAL range of temperatures. In the coastal areas the temperatures are milder in summer or winter, compared to the interior of Alaska.
Children's Light Summer Clothing for Muddy Play
That means southern mainland summer coastal areas have temperatures in the low to mid 70s F on sunny days, with 10 ° to 15 ° F cooler weather at night. In recent years, some people thought Alaska was going to melt away when the temperatures moved up to the high 70s and low 80s on a few summer days in Anchorage.But for the interior, it might actually get hot - temperatures can be the same or 5 ° to 15 ° F warmer on an average in the summer.
In the winter, the southern mainland Alaskan coastal areas have temperatures that usually start freezing (32 ° F) in September. Then temperatures will move up and down about 10 °, while gradually getting colder and colder until in November you can have some pretty cold days. It can be anywhere from 10 ° or 20 ° F above 0, or 10 ° to 30 ° F below 0. The temperature continues going up and down like that for several months, usually with the coldest temperatures being reached in January.
Cool Winter Temperatures at Turnagain Arm Off Seward Highway
For the interior of Alaska, figure that the temperatures will be the same or 10 ° to 20 ° F colder, depending on how far north you go.Permanent melting temperatures usually occur in April to May, but sometimes as early as March. And, of course, there can be the unusual melting temperatures in mid-winter that then re-freeze and turn everything to ice. So count on comfortably warm to hot summer days with mostly chilly nights and cool to extremely cold winter days.
Hope this helps you get a better idea of what to expect for Alaska temperatures, no matter what time of the year you vacation in Alaska...
Spring Flowers Along the Seward Highway on Turnagain Arm
Still want to know more? Here is information on the Alaskan Climate...Return to Top of Alaska Temperatures Page Return To Alaska Vacation Planning Page Return to Tips for Backwoods Alaska Vacations Home Page
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