The best times to visit South Central Alaska for ideal weather are

June 25th to September 16th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other South Central Alaska Travel Info

Weather in South Central Alaska

Temperature

Average temperatures in South Central Alaska vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for most of the year with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is far less temperate than some — in the 9th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit South Central Alaska, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early July where highs are regularly around 63.4°F (17.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 51.4°F (10.8°C) at night.

South Central Alaska Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

South Central Alaska Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

South Central Alaska Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

South Central Alaska Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average South Central Alaska Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 31.1 27.3 24
Feb 31.5 27.7 24.2
Mar 33.6 29.1 25.4
Apr 42.2 37.4 33.7
May 52.8 46.4 41
Jun 59 52.2 46.8
Jul 61.4 55.3 50.8
Aug 60.6 54.9 50.6
Sep 54.9 49.8 46
Oct 44.3 39.9 36.8
Nov 36.4 32.8 29.8
Dec 31.7 28 24.7

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan -0.5 -2.6 -4.4
Feb -0.3 -2.4 -4.3
Mar 0.9 -1.6 -3.7
Apr 5.7 3 0.9
May 11.6 8 5
Jun 15 11.2 8.2
Jul 16.3 12.9 10.4
Aug 15.9 12.7 10.3
Sep 12.7 9.9 7.8
Oct 6.8 4.4 2.7
Nov 2.4 0.4 -1.2
Dec -0.2 -2.2 -4.1

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in South Central Alaska are February, May, and then June. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid February. For example, on the week of February 19th there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid August with an average of 6 days of significant precipitation the week of August 13th.

When can you find snow in South Central Alaska? Weather stations report far greater snow than most tourist destinations snow through most of the year likely to be deepest around April, especially close to late March. The best time to ski (if at all) in South Central Alaska is often around around March 12th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in South Central Alaska.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in South Central Alaska (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 55% 29 16.6
Feb 44% 28.3 12.8
Mar 56% 43.3 16.5
Apr 57% 49.6 19.3
May 45% 23.7 14.6
Jun 48% 7 12.4
Jul 50% 0 16
Aug 56% 0 12.7
Sep 56% 0 18.4
Oct 61% 2.1 20.8
Nov 62% 7.5 21.8
Dec 50% 12.5 13

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 55 73.7 42.2
Feb 44 71.9 32.5
Mar 56 110 41.9
Apr 57 126 49
May 45 60.2 37.1
Jun 48 17.8 31.5
Jul 50 0 40.6
Aug 56 0 32.3
Sep 56 0 46.7
Oct 61 5.3 52.8
Nov 62 19.1 55.4
Dec 50 31.8 33

 

Humidity and Wind

South Central Alaska has some very humid months, and above average humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is May (66.5% relative humidity), and the most humid month is August (79%).

Wind in South Central Alaska is usually moderate. The windiest month is February, followed by December and November. February’s average wind speed of around 10.7 knots (12.3 MPH or 19.8 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in mid to late November where average top sustained speeds reach 24.4 knots, which is considered a strong breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in South Central Alaska.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 9.3 Gentle breeze 19.7 Strong breeze
Feb 10.7 Gentle breeze 20.6 Strong breeze
Mar 8.8 Gentle breeze 18.5 Strong breeze
Apr 7 Gentle breeze 14.6 Significant breeze
May 5.6 Light breeze 12.4 Strong breeze
Jun 4.9 Light breeze 12 Significant breeze
Jul 4.8 Light breeze 11.5 Strong breeze
Aug 3.9 Barely noticeable 10.6 Gentle breeze
Sep 6.2 Light breeze 13.5 Strong breeze
Oct 7.3 Gentle breeze 15.9 Significant breeze
Nov 9.4 Gentle breeze 19.5 Strong breeze
Dec 9.4 Gentle breeze 19.3 Strong breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 76.8%
Feb 73.5%
Mar 71.5%
Apr 73.7%
May 66.5%
Jun 71.3%
Jul 78.3%
Aug 79%
Sep 77.6%
Oct 76.7%
Nov 77.7%
Dec 76.3%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to South Central Alaska?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in South Central Alaska, AK, US is July, followed by August and June. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit South Central Alaska in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 35 in November means 35% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall South Central Alaska Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 58.1°F (14.5°C) and 30.8°F (-0.7°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is frequent with 14 to 17 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have cold weather with high temperatures that are brisk. These months see moderate precipitation with 15 to 17 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in South Central Alaska, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 58.3°F (14.6°C) and 32.7°F (0.4°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a great amount: 17 to 19 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in South Central Alaska to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 36.4°F (2.4°C) and 28°F (-2.2°C). On average, it rains or snows a very great amount: 12 to 17 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › South Central Alaska, AK, US