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Alaska weather by month
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The thin dotted line is the corresponding average rainfall. That will be quite the adventure! If our experts can further help you choose an Alaska small ship cruise or Alaska tour please do contact us.
Alaska weather by month –
During winter you can also view the artistic masterpieces created by ice carvers and try or watch some dog mushing. Winter in Alaska is also known for its spectacular festivals. Alaska is of course a perfect vacation destination for winter sports activities like all sorts of skiing, dog mushing, ice skating, snowmobiling But Alaska is also a popular destination for summer vacations where you can visit various national parks, explore glaciers all year round, see wildlife such as brown bears, mooses and hawks and the breathtaking extent of untouched nature.
The northern lights or Aurora Borealis are another spectacle of nature that can be observed from April to November. And finally there are things to do out at sea like whale watching, fishing… even snorkeling is possible in summer! All year round there are various festivals and celebrations that give you the chance to meet the locals of this huge state.
Keep this vastness in mind when planning your trip , calculate enough time for your vacation and be sure to keep track of the weather in Alaska! Alaska Weather Averages By Month. Alaska is a huge state stretching miles from north to south and more than miles from east to west. At the coast in Southcentral Alaska the weather is often wet and stormy. Specialty tours and fishing can attract hearty travelers and custom tours can be arranged. Winters in Alaska can be harsh and beautiful.
Weather is extremely cold and storms are severe. Winter activities such as dog sledding, snow shoeing and skiing are possible. Specialty lodges offer comfortable accommodations for hearty travelers willing to brave cold long nights to witness this spectacle of nature. The Alaska cruising season begins in March and ends in October. The peak season with best weather and wildlife occurs during summer months. But spring, when Alaska awakens from a long winter, is also another favorite time to cruise Alaska.
Snow is present in the mountains, driving hungry bears down to the coast for a meal. Small ships, which can sail close to the shore, take advantage of these springtime encounters. You will find the best prices of the year on small boat tours of Alaska as well at this time.
As Alaska small ship cruise experts, we advise clients that the best time to cruise Alaska is May 15 through September 1. If we had to choose one, the best month for an Alaska cruise is July. Typically, there are no scheduled cruises from mid-October through February, but special Alaska charter cruises can be arranged during this time with advanced notice. Families typically visit mid June through mid August. View the best Alaska cruises for families. See our monthly Alaska weather tips and travel advice above to find your best time to take an Alaskan cruise.
Keep this in mind if you are planning an Alaska small ship cruise and an Alaska land tour combination. Summer in interior Alaska is short and occurs from mid-June through late-August.
Winter in Alaska sees far fewer travelers with December through March being the best months to view the northern lights or aurora borealis. The spring and fall months in Alaska offer unique opportunities and lower prices. In our opinion the best time to travel to Alaska is in June, July and August.
The best month to visit Alaska is July, when travelers will experience the best combination of weather and wildlife. See our breakdown of Alaska weather by month above to learn more about the temperatures, sunlight and wildlife, to find the best time to visit Alaska for you.
Whales can be seen from small ships to Alaska throughout the small ship cruise season of May through September. Orca and minke whales are residents so they may be found at any time of year. But most travelers want to see humpbacks and if you fall into this category, then you must plan your trip accordingly. When to see humpback whales in Alaska? The first humpbacks begin to arrive in Alaska about late April and early May.
These are typically the adult males that can make the long migration the fastest. They are followed by younger males, females and finally mothers with calves arriving in late May and early June. Small ship cruises in May will likely view whales, but they will be individuals or smaller groups of two or three spread about looking and waiting for food. When is the best time to see whales in Alaska?
The best time to cruise Alaska for whales is from mid-June through mid-August. By mid-June most humpbacks have arrived and they are gathering together in predictable feeding pods. This is the best time for whale watching in Alaska and the consistent sightings will continue through mid-August when the first whales will begin to leave for warmer waters. During this best time to see humpback whales in Alaska, sightings are almost guaranteed. Why is mid-June through mid-August on an Alaskan cruise the best time to see whales?
Strong currents bring nutrients from deep below to mix with oxygen-rich water near the surface resulting in huge blooms of zooplankton tiny animals , krill and small fish such as capelin, candlefish and herring. For more insights into seeing whales on your small ship cruise, including tips on where to spot whales, how to prepare and the advantages offered by small ships, read our primer on whale watching in Alaska.
Mosquitoes, sometimes jokingly referred to as the Alaskan state bird, are a fact of life during the summer travel season. Mosquitoes and other bugs are most prevalent in the boggy interior and Arctic tundra regions during mid-summer. Populations spike in late June and dissipate in early August. You will not encounter bugs on small ship cruises, except when venturing ashore on calm days and even then, they are seldom troublesome.
Your packing list should recommend remedies to repel bugs and long-sleeve clothing to keep them at bay when they are encountered. Being equipped for weather and conditions will make your Alaskan experience more enjoyable. Weather in various Alaska destinations is unpredictable and travelers should prepare themselves for a range of conditions, no matter what month you travel. We have developed comprehensive Alaska planning guides for our booked clients, with expertise culled from years of our own living, working, guiding and traveling in Alaska.
Layers are essential for a comfortable Alaska vacation, using fast-drying wicking materials. A raincoat and rain pants are also must-haves, as is a warm hat and gloves.
Many boats and some lodges will provide rubber boots. With a well-packed bag, you can appreciate the opportunities created by varying weather, which in turn creates the cornucopia of landscapes and wildlife that brings travelers to the Last Frontier. Many travelers incessantly check the daily weather in Alaska as their trip approaches. We advise you to resist this temptation, it will only drive you crazy.
Local forecasts in Alaska are astoundingly inaccurate and weather changes by the hour. Checking daily forecasts does little to help you prepare. Stick to the broad guidelines above and as previously stated, follow the advice of your packing lists. Checking the weather before your Alaska trip will only serve to frustrate your preparations and offers little insight into what conditions will be like when you arrive.
While this Alaska by Month guide is a valuable resource for planning when to go, wildlife and weather can never be fully predicted, especially in a land as powerful as Alaska. Life in Alaska is greatly affected by latitude variances, as slight latitude shifts can result in big seasonal and light changes.
The nature of small ship cruising is to be flexible and nimble, and this ethos should be applied to any trip in Alaska, by land or sea. After all, the surprise in what you experience while in Alaska is a big part of the fun. Use the Alaska climate and weather tables below to determine the average temperature, rainfall and daylight. Learn more about the best time to visit Denali.
Considering everything stated above, we advise travelers that June 15 through August 15 is the best time to go to Alaska.
If you plan your trip during the peak season, then plan ahead and book early as these are the dates that sell out first. Our experts have more information on when to visit Alaska, planning your Alaska trip or the best time of year to visit Alaska. When you are ready to book the trip of a lifetime, just give us a call, our experts are ready to help. Have a question or looking for advice about the best time to visit Alaska? Ready to plan and book your Alaska with our experts?
Contact us. Your email address will not be published. All fields are required. This has been very informative as I want to plan a trip to Alaska. Wow Gail that sounds like quite the comprehensive Alaska trip! If you need help crafting the itinerary, please contact our experts. AdventureSmith Explorations specializes in creating custom travel by land or sea and will suggest draft itineraries with Alaska lodging or small cruise ship that meet your needs and budget.
How exciting! August is a popular time to visit Alaska. Wildlife is abundant, the days are long and the weather is warm and wet. If our experts can further help you choose an Alaska small ship cruise or Alaska tour please do contact us. August in Alaska is a great time to see humpback whales, orcas, bears and other wildlife as they capitalize on salmon runs. Have a great time. Will I enjoy cruising without a lot of side excursions.
Thank you. Hi Patty, There is an Alaska small ship cruise for every style of travel from active to relaxed. Many travelers remain on board to enjoy scenic wilderness cruising from the ship. Travelers with limited mobility may also seek a small ship with an elevator to make moving around the boat easier.
Small ships cruise close to shore where bears, moose, eagles, and wildlife are easily spotted bring your binoculars. Flexible itineraries mean small ships can stop and linger longer when whales are spotted. Contact our experts for a full consultation on your perfect Alaska trip and small ship. Thanks for your comment and what an adventure! We once had a group of clients ride their motorcycles all the way from Florida to embark one of our smalls ship cruises in Alaska.
While our specialty is planning and booking small ship cruises and wilderness adventures, here are some resources to help with your trip. The post above has an overview of the wildlife and weather in Alaska in April. Find more detailed Alaska climate information with temperature, rainfall and daylight tables. You will surely want to learn more about how to visit Denali National Park. Getting to Alaska will require a transit of the Alaska Highway and The Milepost is a good resource for travelers traveling by road.
Finally, the State of Alaska travel site can be a good resource for Alaska weather. We believe that getting away from the roads and rails is essential to any authentic Alaska trip , so if you interested in getting off your bike to experience the real Alaska, please contact us. We want to visit Alaska July 30 for my daughter birthday. Tips on what to do are highly appreciated.
Our team of true Alaska experts can craft the perfect birthday trip suited to your interests, ability and budget—by land, sea or both. Space is quickly becoming limited for July so we recommend booking soon.
An Alaska expert will be in touch. Hi we are doing a cruise the end of august. I am trying to figure out how to pack. We have gone in July and it was extremely hot, then we went the next year about the same time and it was extremely cold. Like to know what the weather is like the end of august. Hi Robin, Here is the section on Alaska in August. Our advice is to always prepare for a range of conditions, no matter what month you travel to Alaska. Weather can never be fully predicted but reach out directly to your cruise operator for packing materials, they may supply comprehensive Alaska planning guides like we do for our booked clients.
Have a great time! Scheduled for a cruise to Alaska June Wanted to find out how to dress. We are thrilled you get to experience Alaska this summer.
Our comprehensive Alaska trip planning materials are written by our experts with decades of combined experience and provided to our clients at the time of booking. The best thing to do is contact your cruise operator directly and request their packing resources.
Have an incredible cruise and please talk to our experts when planning your next small ship cruise vacation. My name is Sonya, and I really want to be brave and travel to Anchorage and other parts of Alaska in mid February, Are there many things to see and do at that time or would you recommend another time?
I was really hoping to see the Northern lights if possible. Please help guide my decision. Thanks in advance for the advice. Hi Sonya and thanks for your question. While the northern lights sometimes called aurora borealis occur year round in Alaska the best time to view them are dark nights November through March. February is cold and clear, making it an excellent time for northern lights viewing. March is also nice with dark nights but a bit more daylight.
Stay up late as the best viewing is from 10am-3am. Remember the lights need to be out and you need clear skies. The aurora can be elusive so think of it as an adventure. But the payoff is one of the most incredible spectacles of nature. Finally you can check the aurora forecast from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. There are a host of winter activities available such as the Alaska Railroad, hot springs, dog sledding, snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing. We offer custom crafted winter tours in Alaska so contact us if you are interested in speaking with an Adventure Specialist.
We want to travel summer , fly into Anchorage and travel north and south from there. Does it rain constantly, or do you have brief showers like Hawaii? Hey Karen! Throughout the summer, weather is variable and can change rapidly.
Alaska is a rainy destination, so you are likely to encounter rain at some point during your trip no matter what summer month you choose. In Anchorage and Denali rain showers and the chance of storms, with more than just showers, increase as the summer progresses. See the above Alaska climate tables for rainfall by month. Our clients are prepared with an extensive packing lists and travel preparation. Feel free to contact our Alaska travel experts for further assistance.
They have lived, worked and explored the region in depth as former guides, operations managers and naturalists, and can help you craft the perfect Alaska package. Hello, and thank you for this wonderful information. My husband and I would like to fly in from Arizona. We are not big into city life, noise pollution, bright lights and lots of people.
We love nature and I am a photographer. We love the fall and moderate hikes. Where would you suggest we fly into, as well the areas of beautiful Alaska, that you would suggest, based on our interest. Our full-service trips showcase the best of Alaska, with plenty of nature, hiking and photography opportunities as evidenced by our small ship Alaska cruise reviews and Alaska tour reviews.
To help narrow your options, consider our Alaska Cruise Guides and our picks for 5 iconic Alaska wildlife cruises and how to visit Denali National Park. An Adventure Specialist will be in touch soon to discuss fall options and better hone in on your ideal trip.
Hello, I wanted to catch beautiful fall foliage in AK as well. Will that be too late for fall foliage? We also would like to check out some national parks as well and definitely wildlife sightseeing and finishing. We also will visit some old friends who live in Dutch Harbor. We will be staying in Airbnb, rent a car to drive around.
Should we land in Anchorage airport for our convenience?
Anchorage Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Alaska, United States) – Weather Spark
Get the monthly weather forecast for Alaska, IN, including daily high/low, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. brings you the most accurate monthly weather forecast for Alaska with average/record and high/low temperatures, precipitation and more. Welcome; Mission Statement; Are you looking for more specific weather or climate information? Click on any of the links for weather forecasts: Anchorage Forecast Office.
