Climate Insights for Anchorage

The climate in Anchorage is cool. The average annual temperature is 4°C and approximately 849mm of precipitation falls per year. August is the wettest month, receiving around 126mm of rainfall. Anchorage is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to -8°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 174cm accumulating over the season.

Temperatures in Anchorage vary considerably across the year, with a 26°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 18°C with a mean of 15°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -8°C and the daily average is -6°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 5°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 7°C shift in average temperatures.

Anchorage is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 849mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 71mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 126mm of rainfall. September and October also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is April, with just 29mm. That's 97mm less than August, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 174cm accumulating over the season. December typically sees the most snow at around 40cm.

Anchorage is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 12km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is December, averaging 13km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 10km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 3km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently spring in Anchorage, which began on March 20, 2026. Anchorage is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 18°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -8°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 88 days from now.

The best time to visit Anchorage is during July, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 15°C with modest rainfall averaging 94mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to -8°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Anchorage based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.