Climate Comfort Score
34/100
Below Average
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 38°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Anchorage, AK Climate
Explore average temperature, rainfall, and comfort score sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 climate normals →
- 38°F
- Avg annual temp
- 34/100
- Comfort score
- 16.4"
- Annual precip
- 149d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska averages 38°F a year and scores 34/100 on the comfort index - below average, milder than 1% of U.S. cities.
- 38°F
- yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
- 34/100
- comfort score, milder than 1% of U.S. cities
- 16.4"
- annual precipitation · 78" snow
- 149 days
- frost-free days per growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
38°F (3°C)
Avg High
44°F
Avg Low
31°F
Annual Precip
16.4"
Annual Snow
77.9"
Comfort Score
34/100
Below Average
Avg Annual Temperature
38°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
16.4"
Plus 77.9" of snow
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Anchorage) 34.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Below Average for the Anchorage area.
How Anchorage compares to every U.S. city
Anchorage's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
34 Top 99% higher than 1% of 6,915 US cities
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Warming context for Anchorage
MethodologyHow the U.S. land temperature anomaly tracks against the global mean since 1900. The current NOAA 1991-2020 normal for Anchorage captures average conditions across the spread shown, the most recent decade is warmer than the 30-year mean.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23°F (-5°C) | 11°F (-12°C) | 17°F (-8°C) | 0.8" | 12.4" | 30.3 | 0.0 |
| February | 27°F (-3°C) | 15°F (-9°C) | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.9" | 13.4" | 27.2 | 0.0 |
| March | 33°F (1°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 26°F (-3°C) | 0.7" | 11.0" | 29.4 | 0.0 |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 38°F (3°C) | 0.4" | 4.0" | 18.8 | 0.0 |
| May | 56°F (13°C) | 40°F (4°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 0.7" | 0.3" | 2.7 | 0.0 |
| June | 63°F (17°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.0" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| July | 66°F (19°C) | 53°F (12°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 1.8" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| August | 64°F (18°C) | 51°F (11°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 2.9" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| September | 56°F (13°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 49°F (10°C) | 3.1" | 0.4" | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| October | 42°F (6°C) | 31°F (-1°C) | 36°F (2°C) | 1.8" | 5.6" | 17.6 | 0.0 |
| November | 29°F (-2°C) | 18°F (-8°C) | 24°F (-5°C) | 1.2" | 12.6" | 27.2 | 0.0 |
| December | 25°F (-4°C) | 14°F (-10°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 1.2" | 18.2" | 30.6 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 0.8"
Snow: 12.4"
8.1 days with precipitation
February 0.9"
Snow: 13.4"
7.9 days with precipitation
March 0.7"
Snow: 11.0"
6.0 days with precipitation
April 0.4"
Snow: 4.0"
4.9 days with precipitation
May 0.7"
Snow: 0.3"
6.5 days with precipitation
June 1.0"
8.6 days with precipitation
July 1.8"
11.7 days with precipitation
August 2.9"
14.4 days with precipitation
September 3.1"
Snow: 0.4"
14.9 days with precipitation
October 1.8"
Snow: 5.6"
11.5 days with precipitation
November 1.2"
Snow: 12.6"
9.8 days with precipitation
December 1.2"
Snow: 18.2"
10.8 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 1
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
May 5
50% probability date
Growing Season
149 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
9,979
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
8
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
Humidity & Wind
Monthly averages from hourly observations
| Month | Humidity | Wind (mph) | Clear Sky % | Overcast % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 75% | 6.2 | 12% | 46% |
| February | 70% | 6.3 | 20% | 40% |
| March | 65% | 6.5 | 15% | 41% |
| April | 60% | 7.7 | 8% | 36% |
| May | 61% | 8.5 | 5% | 35% |
| June | 69% | 7.2 | 2% | 39% |
| July | 74% | 6.7 | 1% | 46% |
| August | 75% | 6.5 | 8% | 45% |
| September | 74% | 6.5 | 12% | 48% |
| October | 75% | 6.2 | 16% | 47% |
| November | 77% | 6.4 | 11% | 50% |
| December | 78% | 5.7 | 10% | 47% |
Nearby Cities
Anchorage Forecast Office, AK
38°F avg · 34/100 comfort
Anchorage Lake Hood, AK
38°F avg · 44/100 comfort
Anchorage Merrill Fld, AK
38°F avg · 44/100 comfort
Campbell Creek Sci Ctr, AK
34°F avg · 44/100 comfort
Anchorage Rabbit Creek, AK
37°F avg · 54/100 comfort
Anchorage Upper DE Armoun, AK
38°F avg · 54/100 comfort
What Anchorage's climate means for you
Anchorage runs 38°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 149 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near May 5 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 9,979 heating and 8 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
- Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings
These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Anchorage, AK
The NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals describe Anchorage, Alaska as a location with an annual average temperature of 38°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 44°F to a mean daily low of 31°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. These thirty-year averages, computed from station USW00026451, smooth out year-to-year variability and give a baseline expectation for typical conditions in any given month.
Rainfall (and snow, where it falls) shapes day-to-day life here as much as temperature does. Anchorage sees about 16.4 inches of precipitation a year, with 77.9 inches typically falling as snow. The frost-free season averages 149 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near May 5 and the first fall freeze near October 1. On the energy side, 9,979 heating degree days and 8 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Anchorage scores 34/100 (Below Average), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. For planning purposes, look to the monthly tables above: shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows, summer brings July-driven heat, and deep winter brings January-driven cold. Treat every figure here as a thirty-year average rather than a forecast - individual years routinely run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than the normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Anchorage, AK? ▼
The average annual temperature in Anchorage, Alaska is 38°F. The warmest month averages 66°F (19°C) and the coldest averages 11°F (-12°C).
How much rain does Anchorage get? ▼
Anchorage receives 16.4 inches of precipitation annually, including 77.9 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Anchorage? ▼
Anchorage has a climate comfort score of 34/100 (Below Average), milder than 1% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Anchorage? ▼
Anchorage has approximately 149 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around May 5 and the first fall freeze around October 1.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Anchorage? ▼
Anchorage has 9,979 heating degree days and 8 cooling degree days annually, a heating-dominated climate. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Anchorage climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USW00026451 near Anchorage.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USW00026451. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.