AI-generatedKetchikan, Alaska at a glance
- Best time
- Jul – Aug
- Warmest month
- Aug · 17°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 14.3°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,570 h
- Rain a year
- 2,848 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC−9 / UTC−8
- Elevation
- 8 m
Climate in Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan, Alaska has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 17 °C, while January is the coolest at 4 °C. With around 1,570 hours of sunshine a year, Ketchikan, Alaska is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 7.1 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: July – August
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 8°
- Midday, 13:00: about 10°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 10°
- Evening, 20:00: about 8°
- Night, 23:00: about 8°
07:1417:50
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 06:52–08:05 · evening 16:59–18:13
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:37–06:52 · evening 18:13–18:27
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 Ketchikan, Alaska in October?
In October, Ketchikan, Alaska is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 10.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 342 mm. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 36 min07:14 – 17:50
- UV index
- 1 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 24 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 79 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−8America/Sitka
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %20 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Nature escape”.
What to pack in October
- Warm jacket
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Ketchikan, Alaska
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 9.5 – 10.7 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Ketchikan, Alaska ranges from 5.9 °C in February to 14.3 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
From October to March 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 13.2 and 15.7 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 6.3° | 5.4° | 7.0° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 5.9° | 5.2° | 6.7° | cold |
| MarchMar | 6.0° | 5.2° | 6.8° | cold |
| AprilApr | 6.9° | 6.0° | 8.0° | cold |
| MayMay | 9.2° | 7.8° | 10.6° | cold |
| JuneJun | 11.9° | 10.6° | 12.9° | cold |
| JulyJul | 13.8° | 12.6° | 15.2° | cold |
| AugustAug | 14.3° | 13.2° | 15.7° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 12.5° | 11.5° | 13.8° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 10.1° | 9.5° | 10.7° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 8.2° | 7.4° | 8.9° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 7.1° | 6.4° | 7.8° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Ketchikan, Alaska
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 2.9 of 10.6 hours of daylight in Ketchikan, Alaska, 27 % 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 Ketchikan, Alaska
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 7).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 95 min
- 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 Ketchikan, Alaska: 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, Ketchikan, Alaska has about 22 rainy days with 342 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Ketchikan, Alaska
How breezy and how cloudy Ketchikan, Alaska 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 Ketchikan, Alaska typically peaks at 24 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Sep – Apr.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 79 % of the sky over Ketchikan, Alaska: mostly cloudy, with about 2.9 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 Ketchikan, Alaska
When Ketchikan, Alaska 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, it hardly ever snows in Ketchikan, Alaska.
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 Ketchikan, Alaska
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 7°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in January (1°), the warmest in August (13°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from October 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 | 0 | 4° | 1° | 6.3° | 1.7 h | 21 | 306 |
| FebruaryFeb | 3 | 4° | 1° | 5.9° | 3.1 h | 17 | 215 |
| MarchMar | 4 | 5° | 2° | 6.0° | 4.2 h | 20 | 229 |
| AprilApr | 10 | 8° | 4° | 6.9° | 5.9 h | 19 | 208 |
| MayMay | 38 | 12° | 7° | 9.2° | 7.1 h | 16 | 162 |
| JuneJun | 52 | 14° | 10° | 11.9° | 6.7 h | 16 | 138 |
| JulyJul | 62 | 16° | 12° | 13.8° | 6.3 h | 16 | 132 |
| AugustAug | 60 | 17° | 13° | 14.3° | 5.8 h | 17 | 196 |
| SeptemberSep | 36 | 14° | 11° | 12.5° | 4.1 h | 20 | 284 |
| OctoberOct | 10 | 10° | 7° | 10.1° | 2.9 h | 22 | 342 |
| NovemberNov | 0 | 6° | 4° | 8.2° | 2.0 h | 22 | 320 |
| DecemberDec | 0 | 4° | 1° | 7.1° | 1.6 h | 21 | 318 |
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
55.34° N, 131.65° W · 8 m · America/Sitka
Best time to visit Ketchikan, Alaska
The best time to visit Ketchikan, Alaska is from July to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 14.3 °C. The wettest month is October with 342 mm of precipitation.
Ketchikan, Alaska through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Ketchikan, Alaska in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 5–12 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 56 rainy days in all
Ketchikan, Alaska in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 14–17 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 48 rainy days in all
Ketchikan, Alaska in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 6–14 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 63 rainy days in all
Ketchikan, Alaska in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 4 °C by day
- Sea 6 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 59 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Ketchikan, Alaska for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Ketchikan, Alaska
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in Ketchikan, Alaska: score 62 against 10. In July, days are 6 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 4 °C warmer in July. July has 6 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 10 | 62better |
| Day high | 10° | 16° |
| Night low | 7° | 12° |
| Sea | 10.1° | 13.8° |
| Sunshine | 2.9 h | 6.3 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 22 | 16better |
| Rainfall | 342 mm | 132 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
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
All year
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Nov – Mar
Snow on 2 or more days
Ketchikan, Alaska month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
0January4° · Sea 6° · 2 h
In January, Ketchikan, Alaska is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 6.3 °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 21 days, totalling 306 mm. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in January3February4° · Sea 6° · 3 h
In February, Ketchikan, Alaska is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 5.9 °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 17 days, totalling 215 mm. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in February4March5° · Sea 6° · 4 h
In March, Ketchikan, Alaska is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 6.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 20 days, adding up to 229 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in March10April8° · Sea 7° · 6 h
In April, Ketchikan, Alaska is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 6.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 208 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in April38May12° · Sea 9° · 7 h
In May, Ketchikan, Alaska is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 9.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 162 mm. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in May52June14° · Sea 12° · 7 h
In June, Ketchikan, Alaska is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 11.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 138 mm. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in June62July16° · Sea 14° · 6 h
In July, Ketchikan, Alaska is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 13.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 132 mm. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in July60August17° · Sea 14° · 6 h
In August, Ketchikan, Alaska is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 14.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 196 mm. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in August36September14° · Sea 13° · 4 h
In September, Ketchikan, Alaska is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 12.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 20 days, adding up to 284 mm. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in September10October10° · Sea 10° · 3 h
In October, Ketchikan, Alaska is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 10.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 342 mm. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in October0November6° · Sea 8° · 2 h
In November, Ketchikan, Alaska is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 8.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 320 mm. Snow falls on about 4 days. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in November0December4° · Sea 7° · 2 h
In December, Ketchikan, Alaska is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 7.1 °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 21 days, totalling 318 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska in DecemberKetchikan, Alaska compared
Put Ketchikan, Alaska side by side with another destination.
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Ketchikan vs. Prince Rupert
In October the holiday weather in Ketchikan and Prince Rupert is about equally good (score 10 vs. 11). During the day it is about as warm in Prince Rupert as in Ketchikan. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Ketchikan | Prince Rupert |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 10 | 11 |
| Daytime high | 10° | 10° |
| Sea | 10° | 10° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 3 h |
| Rainy days | 22 | 22 |
| Best time | Jul – Aug | Apr – Aug |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Ketchikan, Alaska ranks 28 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
- 28KetchikanThis page10°10°10
Planning a trip to Ketchikan, Alaska
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Ketchikan, Alaska 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.
Ketchikan, Alaska has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 61) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 0).
- 8
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
- 41
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 12 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 7.0 h of sun a day
- 16 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 61
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 16 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 16 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 10
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 10 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 2.9 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 0
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 4 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 1.7 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 9 h 20 min
- Distance
- 7,310 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 Ketchikan, Alaska
When is the best time to visit Ketchikan, Alaska?
The best time to visit Ketchikan, Alaska is from July to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Ketchikan, Alaska?
The sea temperature in Ketchikan, Alaska ranges from 5.9 °C in February to 14.3 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Ketchikan, Alaska in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 10.1 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Ketchikan, Alaska?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 17 °C and nights around 13 °C. January is the coolest month at 4 °C.
When does it rain most in Ketchikan, Alaska?
The wettest month is October with 342 mm of precipitation. The driest month is July with 132 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Ketchikan, Alaska get?
Ketchikan, Alaska gets around 1,570 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 7.1 hours a day; in December there are 1.6 hours a day.
What time zone is Ketchikan, Alaska in?
Ketchikan, Alaska uses the time zone America/Sitka: UTC−9 in January and UTC−8 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Ketchikan, Alaska?
A nonstop flight from London to Ketchikan, Alaska takes about 9 h 20 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,310 km.
Which school holidays are best for Ketchikan, Alaska?
Ketchikan, Alaska has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 61) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 0). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 8, May half-term 41, Summer holidays 61, October half-term 10, Christmas holidays 0.
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