Alaska Weather & Sporting Seasons

Alaska is a land of extremes and nowhere is that more evident than in its weather. The highest recorded temperature is 100°F, taken in Fort Yukon in 1915. And the lowest temperature, -80°F, was recorded in (comparatively) nearby Prospect Creek in 1971. But don't let the weather extremes deter you. As U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt once wrote in a letter to Canadian Prime Minister W.L. Mackenzie King, "There is much to be said against the climate on the coast of British Columbia and Alaska; yet, I believe that the scenery of one good day will compensate the tourists who will go there in increasing numbers."

The area Roosevelt was talking about is southeast Alaska, which enjoys a maritime climate on the coast, similar to Seattle but slightly cooler. Temperatures stay within the 50's and 60's in the summer months and rarely dip below 20°F the rest of the year. Visitors learn to embrace the weather; it's what gives the area its green-jeweled beauty, nurturing rainforests and dusting the snowy peaks of the Boundary Ranges. It provides key habitat for spawning fish, most notably salmon, making it an ideal fishing destination. Just don't forget the rain gear.

The climate in Alaska's western region is influenced by the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska, but more prone to storms rather than the gentle rain of the southeast. Still, some of the world's most famous fishing villages are here, from Dutch Harbor, gateway to the Bering Sea and home base for Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch," to the legendary Bristol Bay, where commercial gillnetters battle against the tides in shallow waters.

If you're heading to the interior, however, where Denali National Park is located, you'll get sunny summer days in the 80's and 90's and as low as 35°F. Summer snowfall is not uncommon. Winters are more of what you might expect from Alaska, with temperatures below zero and ten feet of snow on the ground a regular feature of life in Fairbanks.

Alaska's northernmost town, Barrow, might be snowy and -20°F in March but clear and 40°F in August. Far north of the Arctic Circle, Barrow was a Native American village whose original name meant "place for hunting snowy owls." As a bird of prey, however, the snowy owl and all other owls are protected by federal law, which means they are off limits to hunters.

All that blustery cold of Alaska's North Slope is blocked by mountain ranges, so the southcentral area where Anchorage lies is comparatively milder, with snowy winters and warm summers.

Alaska hunting and fishing seasons vary throughout the year based on the particular species involved and location. There are 26 Game Management Units (GMU) in Alaska, each with its own set of regulations for residents and nonresidents. The key for the hunter or sports fisherman is to dress in layers no matter where in Alaska your adventure takes you, and no matter what time of year.

Midnight Sun >>>