Anchorage is the largest city of Alaska and is located in the south of the state, at 61 degrees north latitude, in a sheltered bay, Cook Inlet. All around the city there are perennially snow-capped
: the Tordrillo Mountains to the west, the Alaska Range to the north, the Chugach Mountains to the east, and the Kenai Mountains to the south.
Ice tongues start from the mountains and turn into rivers before entering the sea, for example, the Knik glacier gives life to the river of the same name which then flows into the sea near Anchorage.
ranges from -8.5 °C (16.5 °F) in January to 15.5 °C (59.5 °F) in July.
is not abundant, and amounts to only 415 millimeters (16.5 inches) per year. Snow falls from October to April, and despite the low level of precipitation, the total amount of snow that falls in a year is close to 2 meters (6.5 feet). The rainiest period corresponds to the end of summer and the beginning of autumn (August-September).
is very cold, with fairly frequent snowfalls, although generally not abundant. The temperature is normally below freezing even during the day, however, in some periods, it can rise a few degrees above, even up to 7/8 °C (45/46 °F).
However, there are also times when the temperature drops several degrees below freezing. On the coldest nights, it drops below -20 °C (-4 °F) every year. The coldest record is -38 °C (-36.5 °F) and was set in February 1947.
Sometimes fog can form, which can freeze, resulting in the phenomenon known as soft rime.
Also, the winter is long. In April it can still snow (and occasionally even in May).
is mild, with rainfall gradually becoming more frequent. There are also cool days, with highs of 13/14 °C (55/27 °F), especially in June and late August.
However, there may also be pleasant periods, with highs of 21/22 °C (70/72 °F).
On the warmest days of the year, the temperature can reach 27/28 °C (81/82 °F). In July 2019, the temperature even reached 32.2 °C (90 °F).
shines quite often in spring and summer. However, during this period the days are very long, and roughly from May 7 to August 5 there are white nights.
in the bay of Anchorage is colder in the winter than the ocean on the Gulf of Alaska coast, and can be covered in floating ice floes.
, from June to August, being the mildest season. June is the driest and sunniest month and July is the warmest month, while in August the rains become frequent.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-8.4 °C, with a minimum of
-11.6 °C and a maximum of
-5.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-23 °C. However, it dropped to
-31.1 °C in January 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
5.5 °C. However, it reached
10 °C in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
19.2 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-6 °C, with a minimum of
-9.3 °C and a maximum of
-2.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-20 °C. However, it dropped to
-33 °C in February 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6 °C. However, it reached
9.4 °C in February 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
21.9 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-3.4 °C, with a minimum of
-7.4 °C and a maximum of
0.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-26.7 °C in March 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
7 °C. However, it reached
11 °C in March 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
17.5 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.1 °C, with a minimum of
-1.1 °C and a maximum of
7.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8 °C. However, it dropped to
-18.3 °C in April 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13.5 °C. However, it reached
21 °C in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
11 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
11.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9 °C, with a minimum of
4.4 °C and a maximum of
13.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.4 °C in May 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20.5 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in May 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
16.6 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is of
13.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.2 °C, with a minimum of
9.1 °C and a maximum of
17.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0.7 °C in June 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
28.3 °C in June 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
25.8 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
12.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.3 °C, with a minimum of
11.6 °C and a maximum of
19 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
4.4 °C in July 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
32.2 °C in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
46.3 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.2 °C, with a minimum of
10.5 °C and a maximum of
17.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
1 °C in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
27.2 °C in August 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
74.5 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.6 °C, with a minimum of
6.1 °C and a maximum of
13.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.2 °C in September 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
21.7 °C in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
78.7 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.4 °C, with a minimum of
-0.7 °C and a maximum of
5.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-17.3 °C in October 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12.5 °C. However, it reached
18 °C in October 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
46.3 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-4.6 °C, with a minimum of
-7.6 °C and a maximum of
-1.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17 °C. However, it dropped to
-26.1 °C in November 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6 °C. However, it reached
12.2 °C in November 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
30.2 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-7 °C, with a minimum of
-10.1 °C and a maximum of
-3.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-26.1 °C in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6 °C. However, it reached
10.6 °C in December 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
29.4 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.