View source for Climate of Anchorage

{{Short description|none}} <!-- This short description is INTENTIONALLY "none" - please see WP:SDNONE before you consider changing it! -->
[[File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - Anchorage Area, AK(ThreadEx).svg|thumb|right|Climate chart for Anchorage]]

[[Anchorage, Alaska]]  ([[Dena'ina language|Dena'ina]]: ''Dgheyay Kaq'; Dgheyaytnu'')<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Alsworth |first1=Mailing Address: PO Box 227 Port |last2=Us |first2=AK 99653 Phone: 907 644-3626 Contact |title=Dena'ina Athabascan Culture - Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/lacl/learn/historyculture/denainaculture.htm |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref> has a [[subarctic climate]] with the code ''Dsc'' according to the [[Köppen climate classification]] due to its short, cool summers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Society |first=National Geographic |date=2019-10-24 |title=Köppen Climate Classification System |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/koppen-climate-classification-system/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=National Geographic Society |language=en}}</ref>  The weather on any given day is very unpredictable. Some winters feature several feet of snow and cold temperatures, while the summers are typically mild but are cool compared to the [[contiguous US]] and [[interior Alaska]]. Because of Anchorage's high [[latitude]], summer days are very long and winter daylight hours are very short. The longest day of sunlight being 18hrs and 21 minutes, and shortest being 5 hours and 28 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shortest Day In Alaska {{!}} Hours of Daylight & Winter Darkness Fun Facts |url=https://www.alaska.org/advice/shortest-day-in-alaska |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=ALASKA.ORG |language=en}}</ref> Anchorage is often cloudy during the winter, which decreases the amount of sunlight experienced by residents.

== Temperature ==

=== Averages ===
[[File:South_Fork_Eagle_River,_Alaska.jpg|thumb|213x213px|Autumn in Eagle River AK]]
Average daytime summer temperatures range from approximately {{convert|55|to|78|F|C}};<ref name=4wxd/> average daytime winter temperatures are about {{convert|5|to|30|F|C}}.<ref name=4wxd/> Anchorage has a frost-free growing season that averages slightly over one hundred days. Average January low and high temperatures at [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport]] (PANC) are 11 / 23&nbsp;°F (−11.7 / −5.0&nbsp;°C) with an average winter snowfall of 75.59 inches, or 1.92 meters. Farther afield at the Campbell Airstrip is another weather station recording colder night temperatures in both summer and winter.<ref name=4wxd/>

Average July low and high temperatures are 52 / 66&nbsp;°F (11.1 / 18.9&nbsp;°C) and the hottest reading ever recorded was 90&nbsp;°F or 32.2&nbsp;°C on July 4, 2019.<ref name=xmacis2/>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

=== Highest daily temperatures ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Period
!Record temperature<ref name=xmacis2>{{cite web |url = http://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/ |title = xmACIS2 |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date = June 26, 2023}}</ref>
!Date
|-
| {{Date table sorting|January}}
|{{convert|50|F|0}} ||data-sort-value="January 27, 2014"| January 27, 2014<br/>January 19, 1961
|-
| {{Date table sorting|February}}
|{{convert|49|F|0}}|| Feb 27, 2014
|-
| {{Date table sorting|March}}
|{{convert|53|F|0}} ||Mar 31, 2016
|-
| {{Date table sorting|April}}
|{{convert|69|F|0}} ||Apr 29, 2005
|-
| {{Date table sorting|May}}
|{{convert|77|F|0}}||data-sort-value="May 21, 2002"| May 21, 2002<br/>May 24, 1969
|-
| {{Date table sorting|June}}
|{{convert|85|F|0}} || Jun 14, 1969
|-
| {{Date table sorting|July}}
|{{convert|90|F|0}} || Jul 4, 2019
|-
| {{Date table sorting|August}}
|{{convert|82|F|0}} ||data-sort-value="Aug 2, 1978"| Aug 2, 1978<br/>Aug 21, 1977<br/>Aug 6, 1968
|-
| {{Date table sorting|September}}
|{{convert|73|F|0}} || Sep 5, 1957
|-
| {{Date table sorting|October}}
|{{convert|64|F|0}} || Oct 9, 2006
|-
| {{Date table sorting|November}}
|{{convert|54|F|0}} ||Nov 26, 2002
|-
| {{Date table sorting|December}}
|{{convert|51|F|0}} || Dec 9, 2019
|}
{{col-2}}

===Lowest daily temperatures===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Period
!Record temperature
!Date
|-
| {{Date table sorting|January}}
|{{convert|-34|F|0}} || Jan 5, 1975
|-
| {{Date table sorting|February}}
|{{convert|-28|F|0}}|| Feb 4, 1999
|-
| {{Date table sorting|March}}
|{{convert|-24|F|0}}|| Mar 7, 1971
|-
| {{Date table sorting|April}}
|{{convert|-4|F|0}}|| Apr 2, 1985
|-
| {{Date table sorting|May}}
|{{convert|17|F|0}}|| May 10, 1964
|-
| {{Date table sorting|June}}
|{{convert|33|F|0}} || Jun 4, 1961
|-
| {{Date table sorting|July}}
|{{convert|36|F|0}} || Jul 1, 1964
|-
| {{Date table sorting|August}}
|{{convert|31|F|0}} ||data-sort-value="Aug 31, 1984"| Aug 31, 1984<br/>Aug 28, 1984
|-
| {{Date table sorting|September}}
|{{convert|19|F|0}} || Sep 24, 1992
|-
| {{Date table sorting|October}}
|{{convert|-5|F|0}} || Oct 31, 1956
|-
| {{Date table sorting|November}}
|{{convert|-21|F|0}} || Nov 17, 1956
|-
| {{Date table sorting|December}}
|{{convert|-30|F|0}} ||data-sort-value="Dec 27&ndash;28, 1961"| Dec 27&ndash;28, 1961<br/>Dec 14, 1964
|}
{{col-end}}

===Daily record warm minima===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Period
!Record temperature
!Date
|-
| {{Date table sorting|January}}
|{{convert|36|F|0}} || Jan 20, 1990
|-
| {{Date table sorting|February}}
|{{convert|37|F|0}} || Feb 25, 1978
|-
| {{Date table sorting|March}}
|{{convert|40|F|0}} || Mar 26, 1970
|-
| {{Date table sorting|April}}
|{{convert|44|F|0}} ||data-sort-value="Apr 27, 2015"|Apr 27, 2015<br/>Apr 29, 2005
|-
| {{Date table sorting|May}}
|{{convert|56|F|0}} || May 31, 1993 
|-
| {{Date table sorting|June}}
|{{convert|61|F|0}} || Jun 16, 2015
|-
| {{Date table sorting|July}}
|{{convert|63|F|C}} || Jul 10, 2005
|-
| {{Date table sorting|August}}
|{{convert|63|F|0}} || Aug 13&ndash;14, 2019
|-
| {{Date table sorting|September}}
|{{convert|57|F|0}} ||data-sort-value="Sep 6, 1993"|Sep 6, 1993<br/>Sep 5, 1965
|-
| {{Date table sorting|October}}
|{{convert|52|F|0}} || Oct 10, 1986
|-
| {{Date table sorting|November}}
|{{convert|45|F|0}} || Nov 9&ndash;10, 1979
|-
| {{Date table sorting|December}}
|{{convert|37|F|0}} ||data-sort-value="Dec 11, 2017"|Dec 11, 2017<br/>Dec 28, 1982
|}
{{col-2}}

===Daily record cold maxima===

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Period
!Record temperature
!Date
|-
| {{Date table sorting|January}}
|{{convert|-19|F|0}} || Jan 28, 1989
|-
| {{Date table sorting|February}}
|{{convert|-13|F|0}} || Feb 3&ndash;4, 1999
|-
| {{Date table sorting|March}}
|{{convert|-2|F|0}} || Mar 7, 1971
|-
| {{Date table sorting|April}}
|{{convert|14|F|0}} || Apr 1, 1985
|-
| {{Date table sorting|May}}
|{{convert|27|F|0}} || May 9, 1964
|-
| {{Date table sorting|June}}
|{{convert|47|F|0}} || Jun 1&ndash;2, 1973
|-
| {{Date table sorting|July}}
|{{convert|50|F|0}} || Jul 27, 1971
|-
| {{Date table sorting|August}}
|{{convert|50|F|0}} ||data-sort-value="Aug 21, 1985"|Aug 21, 1985<br/>Aug 25, 1983
|-
| {{Date table sorting|September}}
|{{convert|34|F|0}} || Sep 30, 1992
|-
| {{Date table sorting|October}}
|{{convert|13|F|0}} || Oct 31, 1975
|-
| {{Date table sorting|November}}
|{{convert|-2|F|0}} || Nov 29&ndash;30, 1990
|-
| {{Date table sorting|December}}
|{{convert|-17|F|0}} || Dec 28, 1961
|}
{{col-end}}

== Precipitation ==

=== Rainfall ===
Between 2000 and 2022 the annual rainfall in Anchorage was 16.7 inches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Climate |url=https://www.weather.gov/arh/climate?wfo=afc |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref> The months with the highest average mean of rain were August and September, each having an annual mean of 2.75 inches (August) and 3.24 inches (September).

=== Snowfall ===
[[File:Anchorage,_Alaska.JPG|thumb|520x520px|Winter view of Anchorage and the Chugach Mountains]]
For snowfall, the annual mean average for 2000 to 2022 was 76.4 inches;<ref>{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Climate |url=https://www.weather.gov/arh/climate?wfo=afc |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref> the highest snowfall season being 2011 - 2012 with 134.5 inches, and the lowest season being 25.1 inches in 2015.

== Climate change ==
Based on the ERA5 data published by [[ECMWF]], the annual mean temperature of Anchorage has increased from 0.8&nbsp;°C in 1940 to 3.8&nbsp;°C in 2022, an increase of 3&nbsp;°C.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=ERA5 Climate Change Data |url=https://blog.oikolab.com/Climate-Change/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Oikolab|language=en-US}}</ref> 
The mayor and the assembly of Anchorage in 2019 issued a climate action plan for the anticipated effects that climate change will have on its city and people.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Municipality of Anchorage |url=http://www.muni.org/ |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=Municipality of Anchorage |language=en-US}}</ref>  The action plan includes all of the municipality of Anchorage, as far north as [[Eklutna, Anchorage|Eklutna]] and as south as [[Portage, Anchorage|Portage]]. One of the major goals of the climate action plan is to reduce green house gas emissions by 80% by the year 2050 from its 2008 emission levels. The first annual report on this came out in 2021. For its near term plans, the city also introduced a plan called the "Municipality of Anchorage Climate Action Strategy."
{{climate chart convertible|[[Anchorage]]
|11|23|.74
|14|27|.73
|19|34|.60
|29|45|.47
|39|56|.76
|47|63|.96
|52|66|1.83
|49|64|3.24
|41|55|2.98
|29|40|2.03
|17|27|1.17
|13|24|1.12
|float=right
|units=imperial
}}

== Notable climate events ==
Due to its proximity to active [[volcanoes]], ash hazards are a significant, though infrequent, occurrence. The most recent notable incident was an August 1992 mark of [[Mount Spurr|Mt. Spurr]], which is located {{convert|78|mi|km|abbr=on}} west of the city.{{Update inline|date=January 2023}} The eruption deposited about {{convert|3|mm|in|abbr=on}} of volcanic ash on the city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-12-09 |title=Mt. Spurr's 1992 Eruptions |url=http://www.avo.alaska.edu/archives/spurreos/spurreos.php |access-date=2022-04-06 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209050941/http://www.avo.alaska.edu/archives/spurreos/spurreos.php |archive-date=9 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The cleanup of ash resulted in excessive demands for water and caused major problems for the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

On March 17, 2002, there was a storm that caused 28.6 in of snow to close schools for two days.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-03-19 |title=Anchorage Receives Record Snowfall |url=https://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/9300/anchorage-receives-record-snowfall |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov |language=en}}</ref> The storm broke the city record for the most snowfall in a single day. The storm beat the previous record from 1955 on March 16, which was just 15.6 inches. The National Weather Service also recorded this same snow data.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-07-28 |title=National Weather Service, Anchorage Forecast Office Climate |url=http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/climate.php?climstn=PAFC&climmo=3&climyr=2002 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728171450/http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/climate.php?climstn=PAFC&climmo=3&climyr=2002 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Classifications ==
{{Schemebox
|city=Anchorage

|source_k=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=28205&cityname=Anchorage+-+University+of+Alaska,+Alaska,+United+States+of+America|title=Anchorage - University of Alaska, Alaska Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=2019-07-03}}</ref>
|initial_k={{KoppenClimate|Dsc}}
|description_k=Continental [[subarctic climate]]{{efn|Or only [[subarctic climate]]}}

|source_t=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/3/ad652e/ad652e07.htm|title=GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL ZONING FOR THE GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES ASSESSMENT 2000|website=www.fao.org|access-date=2019-07-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kkh.ltrr.arizona.edu/kkh/climate/trewartha_maps.htm|title=Trewartha maps|website=kkh.ltrr.arizona.edu|access-date=2019-07-03}}</ref>
|initial_t={{TrewarthaClimate|E}}
|description_t=[[Boreal climate]]

|source_a=<ref>{{Citation|last=Cmapm|first=Kliimavöötmed svg: Urmasderivative work|title=Русский: Климатические пояса Земли по Б. П. Алисову.|date=2011-06-16|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alisov%27s_classification_of_climate_ru.jpg|access-date=2019-07-01}}</ref>
|initial_a={{n/a}}
|description_a=[[Temperate climate]]{{Efn|Mid-latitude temperate interior climate|name=|group=}}

|source_s=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c5/16/b8/c516b8c463fa99df0da778f768c85965.jpg|title=World Strahler Climate Map}}</ref>
|initial_s={{n/a}}
|description_s=[[Boreal climate|Boreal forest climate]]

|source_tw=<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Feddema|first=Johannes J.|date=January 2005|title=A Revised Thornthwaite-Type Global Climate Classification|journal=Physical Geography|language=en|volume=26|issue=6|pages=442–466|doi=10.2747/0272-3646.26.6.442|bibcode=2005PhGeo..26..442F |s2cid=128745497|issn=0272-3646}}</ref>
|initial_tw={{center|''B1 C'1''}}
|description_tw=Humid and [[microthermal]]

|source_n=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spektrum.de/lexikon/geographie/klimaklassifikation/4159|title=Klimaklassifikation|website=www.spektrum.de|language=de|access-date=2019-07-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.klett.de/sixcms/media.php/klett72.a.427.de/upload/klimazonen_neef.jpg|title=Klimazonen nach E. Neef (1989)|publisher=Klett-Perthes}}</ref>
|initial_n={{n/a}}
|description_n=West side/maritime climate
}}

== Trends in temperature, precipitation, and daylight hours ==

=== NWS office/international airport ===
{{Anchorage weatherbox}}
{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table=ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Anchorage, Alaska.tab
| title=Anchorage official monthly weather statistics
}}

=== Campbell airstrip ===
{{Weather box|collapsed=yes
|location = Campbell airstrip (Anchorage Alaska)
|single line = Y
|metric first = 
|Jan high F = 20
|Feb high F = 26
|Mar high F = 35
|Apr high F = 45
|May high F = 58
|Jun high F = 66
|Jul high F = 68
|Aug high F = 65
|Sep high F = 55
|Oct high F = 41
|Nov high F = 26
|Dec high F = 22
|year high F =

|Jan low F = 2
|Feb low F = 4
|Mar low F = 9
|Apr low F = 22
|May low F = 33
|Jun low F = 41
|Jul low F = 47
|Aug low F = 44
|Sep low F = 35
|Oct low F = 22
|Nov low F = 7
|Dec low F = 5
|year low F =
|Jan snow inch = 10
|Feb snow inch = 16
|Mar snow inch = 18
|Apr snow inch = 9
|May snow inch = 0.2
|Jun snow inch = 0
|Jul snow inch = 0
|Aug snow inch = 0
|Sep snow inch = 0
|Oct snow inch = 9
|Nov snow inch = 11
|Dec snow inch = 2
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=4wxd>
{{cite web
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=afc
|publisher = [[NOAA]]
|date = 2023-06-26
}}
</ref>
|date=June 2012
}}

=== Merrill Field ===
{{Weather box
|location = [[Merrill Field]] (1991−2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1914−present)
|collapsed = Y
|single line = Y
|metric first =
|Jan record high F = 56
|Feb record high F = 57
|Mar record high F = 56
|Apr record high F = 71
|May record high F = 92
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 93
|Aug record high F = 90
|Sep record high F = 73
|Oct record high F = 67
|Nov record high F = 62
|Dec record high F = 54
|year record high F = 100
|Jan avg record high F = 42.5
|Feb avg record high F = 44.0
|Mar avg record high F = 45.2
|Apr avg record high F = 58.4
|May avg record high F = 71.2
|Jun avg record high F = 76.7
|Jul avg record high F = 79.0
|Aug avg record high F = 76.5
|Sep avg record high F = 66.2
|Oct avg record high F = 56.3
|Nov avg record high F = 43.5
|Dec avg record high F = 44.5
|year avg record high F = 80.5
|Jan high F = 22.6
|Feb high F = 28.0
|Mar high F = 34.4
|Apr high F = 47.1
|May high F = 58.4
|Jun high F = 65.7
|Jul high F = 68.4
|Aug high F = 65.7
|Sep high F = 56.8
|Oct high F = 42.5
|Nov high F = 29.0
|Dec high F = 24.7
|year high F = 45.3
|Jan mean F = 15.4
|Feb mean F = 20.2
|Mar mean F = 25.6
|Apr mean F = 38.8
|May mean F = 49.7
|Jun mean F = 57.7
|Jul mean F = 61.1
|Aug mean F = 58.5
|Sep mean F = 49.8
|Oct mean F = 36.4
|Nov mean F = 22.6
|Dec mean F = 18.0
|year mean F = 37.8
|Jan low F = 8.2
|Feb low F = 12.4
|Mar low F = 16.9
|Apr low F = 30.4
|May low F = 41.1
|Jun low F = 49.7
|Jul low F = 53.9
|Aug low F = 51.3
|Sep low F = 42.8
|Oct low F = 30.3
|Nov low F = 16.3
|Dec low F = 11.3
|year low F = 30.4
|Jan avg record low F = -10.8
|Feb avg record low F = -5.6
|Mar avg record low F = -1.5
|Apr avg record low F = 16.7
|May avg record low F = 32.0
|Jun avg record low F = 41.9
|Jul avg record low F = 47.2
|Aug avg record low F = 42.2
|Sep avg record low F = 30.3
|Oct avg record low F = 15.7
|Nov avg record low F = -1.1
|Dec avg record low F = -7.3
|year avg record low F = -15.0
|Jan record low F = -35
|Feb record low F = -38
|Mar record low F = -20
|Apr record low F = -21
|May record low F = 1
|Jun record low F = 29
|Jul record low F = 34
|Aug record low F = 31
|Sep record low F = 19
|Oct record low F = -6
|Nov record low F = -22
|Dec record low F = -36
|year record low F = -38
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.46
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.71
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.54
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.30
|May precipitation inch = 0.62
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.99
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.70
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.48
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.02
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.57
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.88
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.89
|year precipitation inch = 14.16
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.0
|Feb precipitation days = 6.4
|Mar precipitation days = 6.0
|Apr precipitation days = 4.5
|May precipitation days = 6.5
|Jun precipitation days = 9.9
|Jul precipitation days = 12.4
|Aug precipitation days = 15.6
|Sep precipitation days = 15.0
|Oct precipitation days = 11.4
|Nov precipitation days = 7.4
|Dec precipitation days = 8.1
|year precipitation days = 109.2
|source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00026409&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
|title = Station: ANCHORAGE MERRILL FLD, AK
|work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
|access-date = August 30, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230830064058/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00026409&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|archive-date = 2023-08-30}}</ref><ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = August 30, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{ClimateUS|state=expanded}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Climate Of Anchorage, Alaska}}
[[Category:Climate in the United States by populated place|Anchorage, Alaska]]
[[Category:Climate of Alaska|Anchorage]]
[[Category:Geography of Anchorage, Alaska]]