AI-generatedAnchorage at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Jul
- Warmest month
- Jul · 18°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 14.1°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,830 h
- Rain a year
- 683 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC−9 / UTC−8
- Elevation
- 31 m
Climate in Anchorage
Anchorage has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. July is the warmest month with average highs of 18 °C, while January is the coolest at −7 °C. With around 1,830 hours of sunshine a year, Anchorage is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 8.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: June – July
Keep in mindFrequent rainSnow
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 0°
- Midday, 13:00: about 4°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 5°
- Evening, 20:00: about 3°
- Night, 23:00: about 2°
08:3918:51
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 08:12–09:41 · evening 17:50–19:18
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:55–08:12 · evening 19:18–19:35
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Anchorage in October?
In October, Anchorage is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (0 °C). The sea averages 8.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 85 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anchorage.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 13 min08:39 – 18:51
- UV index
- 1 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 15 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 69 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 2 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−8America/Anchorage
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %7 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %40 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Warm jacket
- Hat, scarf & gloves
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Anchorage
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 7.3 – 9.1 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Anchorage ranges from −0.9 °C in February to 14.1 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From September to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 13.0 and 15.3 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | −0.7° | −1.3° | 0.0° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | −0.9° | −1.4° | −0.3° | cold |
| MarchMar | −0.6° | −1.1° | −0.2° | cold |
| AprilApr | 0.4° | −0.5° | 1.4° | cold |
| MayMay | 3.6° | −0.4° | 6.3° | cold |
| JuneJun | 9.4° | 7.4° | 11.6° | cold |
| JulyJul | 13.1° | 11.6° | 14.7° | cold |
| AugustAug | 14.1° | 13.0° | 15.3° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 12.3° | 11.4° | 13.4° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 8.3° | 7.3° | 9.1° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 4.0° | 2.7° | 4.8° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 0.3° | −1.1° | 1.9° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Anchorage
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.4 of 10.2 hours of daylight in Anchorage, 33 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Anchorage
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 1 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 5).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- over 2 h
- Fair skin
- over 2 h
- Light brown skin
- over 2 h
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Anchorage: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Anchorage has about 12 rainy days with 85 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Anchorage
How breezy and how cloudy Anchorage is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Anchorage typically peaks at 15 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 69 % of the sky over Anchorage: mostly cloudy, with about 3.4 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Snow in Anchorage
When Anchorage is likely to be white: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, Anchorage has about 2 days with at least 1 cm of fresh snow, 8 cm in total. The chance of seeing snow during a week's stay is 25 out of 100: possible.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Anchorage
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 0°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in January (−12°), the warmest in July (12°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from September to May, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 17 | −7° | −12° | −0.7° | 1.8 h | 10 | 49 |
| FebruaryFeb | 19 | −4° | −9° | −0.9° | 3.3 h | 10 | 45 |
| MarchMar | 32 | −1° | −8° | −0.6° | 5.8 h | 7 | 28 |
| AprilApr | 39 | 5° | −2° | 0.4° | 7.5 h | 7 | 27 |
| MayMay | 62 | 12° | 3° | 3.6° | 8.7 h | 6 | 28 |
| JuneJun | 84 | 16° | 9° | 9.4° | 8.8 h | 7 | 32 |
| JulyJul | 78 | 18° | 12° | 13.1° | 7.0 h | 11 | 62 |
| AugustAug | 61 | 17° | 11° | 14.1° | 5.9 h | 14 | 101 |
| SeptemberSep | 33 | 12° | 7° | 12.3° | 4.6 h | 15 | 105 |
| OctoberOct | 13 | 5° | 0° | 8.3° | 3.4 h | 12 | 85 |
| NovemberNov | 15 | −3° | −7° | 4.0° | 2.1 h | 11 | 59 |
| DecemberDec | 13 | −6° | −11° | 0.3° | 1.1 h | 12 | 62 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
61.22° N, 149.90° W · 31 m · America/Anchorage
Best time to visit Anchorage
The best time to visit Anchorage is from June to July. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 14.1 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to July. Rain is most frequent from August to October; the wettest month is September with 105 mm.
Anchorage through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Anchorage in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- -1–12 °C by day
- Sea 1 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 20 rainy days in all
Anchorage in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 16–18 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Anchorage in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- -3–12 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 38 rainy days in all
Anchorage in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- -7–-4 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Anchorage for you.
Your best months: June – July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Anchorage
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Anchorage: score 84 against 13. In June, days are 11 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C warmer in June. June has 5 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 5 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 13 | 84better |
| Day high | 5° | 16° |
| Night low | 0° | 9° |
| Sea | 8.3° | 9.4° |
| Sunshine | 3.4 h | 8.8 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 12 | 7better |
| Rainfall | 85 mm | 32 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun – Jul
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Aug – Oct
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Oct – Apr
Snow on 2 or more days
Anchorage month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
17January-7° · Sea -1° · 2 h
In January, Anchorage is freezing cold: daytime highs average −7 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−12 °C). The sea averages −0.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 10 days, totalling 49 mm. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in January19February-4° · Sea -1° · 3 h
In February, Anchorage is freezing cold: daytime highs average −4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−9 °C). The sea averages −0.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 10 days, totalling 45 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in February32March-1° · Sea -1° · 6 h
In March, Anchorage is freezing cold: daytime highs average −1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−8 °C). The sea averages −0.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 7 days, totalling 28 mm. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in March39April5° · Sea 0° · 8 h
In April, Anchorage is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−2 °C). The sea averages 0.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 27 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in April62May12° · Sea 4° · 9 h
In May, Anchorage is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 3.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 28 mm. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in May84June16° · Sea 9° · 9 h
In June, Anchorage is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 9.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 32 mm. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in June78July18° · Sea 13° · 7 h
In July, Anchorage is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 13.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 62 mm in total. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in July61August17° · Sea 14° · 6 h
In August, Anchorage is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 14.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 101 mm. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in August33September12° · Sea 12° · 5 h
In September, Anchorage is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 12.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 105 mm. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in September13October5° · Sea 8° · 3 h
In October, Anchorage is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (0 °C). The sea averages 8.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 85 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in October15November-3° · Sea 4° · 2 h
In November, Anchorage is freezing cold: daytime highs average −3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−7 °C). The sea averages 4.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 11 days, totalling 59 mm. Snow falls on about 6 days. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in November13December-6° · Sea 0° · 1 h
In December, Anchorage is freezing cold: daytime highs average −6 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−11 °C). The sea averages 0.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 12 days, totalling 62 mm. Snow falls on about 10 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anchorage.
Anchorage in DecemberAnchorage compared
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Anchorage vs. Seward
In October Anchorage has the better holiday weather (score 13 vs. 0). During the day it is about as warm in Seward as in Anchorage. The sea in Seward is 2 °C warmer.
| in October | Anchorage | Seward |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 13 | 0 |
| Daytime high | 5° | 5° |
| Sea | 8° | 10° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 3 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 20 |
| Best time | Jun – Jul | Jul – Aug |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Anchorage ranks 26 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Las Vegas26°99
- 2Mariposa (Yosemite)23°98
- 3Sacramento25°96
- 4San Jose23°96
- 5Reno19°95
- 6Napa Valley24°95
- 7San Francisco21°14°95
- 8Oakland21°14°95
- 26AnchorageThis page5°8°13
Planning a trip to Anchorage
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Anchorage in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Anchorage has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 67) and its weakest during October half-term (score 13).
- 37
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 3 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 7.0 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 66
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 12 °C by day
- Sea 5 °C
- 8.7 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
- 67
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 6.3 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 13
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 5 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 3.4 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
- 15
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- −7 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 1.5 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 9 h 10 min
- Distance
- 7,190 km
- Time zone
- UTC−8
- Jet lag
- About 6 days (9 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Anchorage
When is the best time to visit Anchorage?
The best time to visit Anchorage is from June to July. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Anchorage?
The sea temperature in Anchorage ranges from −0.9 °C in February to 14.1 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Anchorage in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 8.3 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Anchorage?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 18 °C and nights around 12 °C. January is the coolest month at −7 °C.
When does it rain most in Anchorage?
Rain is most frequent from August to October; the wettest month is September with 105 mm. The driest month is April with 27 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Anchorage get?
Anchorage gets around 1,830 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 8.8 hours a day; in December there are 1.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Anchorage in?
Anchorage uses the time zone America/Anchorage: UTC−9 in January and UTC−8 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Anchorage?
A nonstop flight from London to Anchorage takes about 9 h 10 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,190 km.
Which school holidays are best for Anchorage?
Anchorage has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 67) and its weakest during October half-term (score 13). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 37, May half-term 66, Summer holidays 67, October half-term 13, Christmas holidays 15.
Near Anchorage
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Anchorage
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Anchorage's – good alternatives.