Alaskan Weather
 

My husband and I are planning to travel to Alaska this summer, but I have heard that July and August are the rainiest in South Central Alaska--where we plan to be. We would really like to have good weather. How bad is it? We will be on a driving vacation--not a cruise. Thanks!

I've been in SouthCentral in both July and September. On both trips, there were some days when it rained and many when it did not. Even when it did most of the time, I could get out and do and see things. The only really heavy rain I experienced was a couple of hours in Seward in September.

Having said that, there is no way anyone can predict what kind of weather you will have. Weather is also variable from place to place. SouthCentral is huge and at any given time, the weather may be substantially different from one place to another. Dress in layers, be prepared for wet and cold and you'll do fine. Don't forget warm gloves (I did and had to buy them)

Maybe I'll see you there. I'll be there for about six weeks in July and August, this year.

Well that sounds pretty good. We were thinking of going in late July, early August. Are there lots of bugs in August?

Just a little perspective on average rainfalls in Anchorage.

It's a quiz: match the city with the July-Aug. averages.

1) 4.0-4.0 A) Miami
2) 1.7-2.9 B) Minneapolis
3) 3.2-3.1 C) Boston
4) 3.6-5.4 D) Anchorage

Answers below. The difference between Anchorage weather and a lot of the Lower 48 is that weather systems have the tendency to stall over AK longer where systems Outside seem to move east in relatively steady patterns.

Meanwhile, the bugs aren't a constant. It's very dependend on the weather, both short term (wind) and long term (wet summer) and location (marshy low-lying areas vs. dry open trails or mountain ridge hikes).

Answers: 1. Minneapolis 4-4, 2. Anchorage 1.7-2.9, 3. Boston 3.2-3.1, 4. Miami 3.6-5.4.

I'm reading these replies with great interest. I've rented videos on cruising Alaska and it seems from these videos that the weather is constantly cloudy and overcast.

Of course I know there is no way to predict weather, but generally, which months are the driest and sunniest? I am interested in a cruise with my family. This is something new to us - I'm generally not a cruise person, but the scenery looks amazing.

How can one generalize about a state that's the size of western Europe? It will be sunny one place while it's raining somewhere else while it's still snowing somewhere else. I mean, please... it's Alaska for Pete's sake.

July and August in Southcentral can be rainy some years, dry others. Seldom does it rain enough to prevent activities. If you want dry, try January.

Oh dear, I guess I wasn't specific enough. As I mentioned, we were interested in a cruise, I am not asking someone to predict the weather for the entire state. Statistically, certain months are wetter, hotter, etc. than other months. I'm also aware that it could rain somewhere and not be raining several miles away. Also, I wasn't aware cruises encountered much snow in the summer. Do they really?

If anyone else could answer my question, I'm interested in hearing your answers about the best months to CRUISE Alaska, weather-wise.

Writer - I apologize for asking this on your thread since you are interested something a bit different b/c you are driving and not cruising. I will post my question in a separate thread as well.

karens,
Are you cruising to Anchorage (Whittier/Seward) or just up the passage? It's generally less overcast once you get across the Gulf of Alaska.

I've lived in five U.S. time zones and I've got to say that the weather in Alaska is tougher to predict and more likely to linger (good or bad) than anywhere else I've been.

Just playing the averages, July is just slightly warmer and slightly wetter than June and slightly warmer and a far bit drier than August.

http://www.w3.weather.com/activities...mp;from=search

But more than any place I've lived AK is a crapshoot. Unfortunately for a lot of people the success of trip is colored by elements beyond their control. It's a shame because it's an expensive trip and expectations run high.

Two tips that help: 1) Be flexible to find a plan be. 2) Layer, layer and layer.

Best of luck.

May can be dryer than later in the season. But you are best to just pick a date and go. Avoid past the first week in Sept. on average the worse weather.

How's the weather average the last days of May, first week of June for Anchorage/Seward/Denali? Is it more like May? Are bears out yet? Any chance of seeing any salmon run on inside passage? I'm from Louisiana, so I'm not too concerned about rain or clouds . . . it's sounds like Alaska has that in common with Louisiana--it may rain, but you can still do things if prepared, and it usually passes fairly quickly. Would that be a true assessment?

``usually passes fairly quickly''

nope. not usually.

May is not the time for salmon on the inside passage, you need later. Bears are viewable in Denali park in May and sometimes out viewable on the Klondike Highway out of Skagway.