Geographical location
According to abbreviationfinder, Alaska is the northernmost state in the United States of America. Only around 700,000 people live in the country with an area of around 1.7 million square kilometers.
It is divided into three regions. Along the south Pacific coast is the mountain range, in the middle part the Yukon lowlands and in the north the coastal area North Slope.
The capital of Alaska is Juneau and is located in the southeast. The largest city in the exclave is Anchorage, with a population of 290,000. In the hinterland is Fairbanks, the second largest city in the country.
In the far east, the state borders on the Canadian Yukon with interesting cities such as Whitehorse. At the same time, the Yukon River rises in Canada and crosses the Alaskan border and flows through the middle of the country.
The national language is English. For example, Fairbanks is around 7090 kilometers away from Frankfurt.
Climate in Alaska
In the country we find an arctic climate, which is characterized by extremely cold winters as well as a comparatively cold summer and little sunlight. The sea has a maritime climate with average temperatures of 3 to 7 ° C.
However, the climate is very different in different regions. In the city of Nome, temperatures can reach 24 ° C in August, whereas in Baron the zero degree limit is rarely exceeded. The warmest month in Fairbanks is July with around 17 ° C.
The coldest month there is Januarywith temperatures around -23 degrees Celsius. The closer you get to northern Alaska and thus the Arctic Ocean, the colder it gets.
When to go to Alaska
Due to the climate and most hours of sunshine, the months of June, July and August are recommended as the best travel time. At this time you will find a comfortable temperature level, while wind and storm are within limits. Ideal for round trips by motorhome or rental car.
Also of September is usually sunny, the nights but already very cold. The winter in Alaska is considered to be rather “hostile to life”, but from February to April there are good conditions for ski tours and dog sledding trips. The Pacific coast is more humid all year round, but the winters are far less harsh.
Optimal travel time for the regions
In the following overview you can see the best travel time depending on the region (Alaska).
| Place | Best travel time |
| Fairbanks | June, July and August |
| Nome | June, July, August and September |
| Annette Isla | June, July and August |
| Barrow | June, July, August and September |
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Fairbanks (Alaska)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | -20 ° C | -14 ° C | -6 ° C | 5 ° C | 15 ° C | 21 ° C | 22 ° C | 19 ° C | 12 ° C | 0 ° C | -11 ° C | -19 ° C |
| Night temperature | -30 ° C | -26 ° C | -20 ° C | -7 ° C | 3 ° C | 9 ° C | 11 ° C | 8 ° C | 2 ° C | -8 ° C | -20 ° C | -28 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 35 | 47 | 47 | 27 | 21st | 18 | 20 |
| Rainy days | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Hours of sunshine | 2 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Sunrise | 10:25 | 8:50 | 8:15 | 6:20 | 4:30 | 3:00 | 3:50 | 5:35 | 7:10 | 8:45 | 9:25 | 10:50 |
| Sunset | 15:35 | 17:20 | 19:45 | 21:25 | 23:05 | 24:40 | 24:05 | 22:15 | 20:20 | 18:30 | 15:45 | 14:45 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Fairbanks is -2.9 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is July (16.9 ° C), coldest month of January with averages of -23.4 ° C.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 270 mm on 65 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. Snow is possible in all but June, July and August.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, June is the sunniest month with an average of 12 hours of sunshine per day. On average over the year, the sun shines 5.9 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Highlights and attractions
The main highlights and attractions in Alaska are definitely the national parks. South of the center of the country is the famous Denali National Park, which can be accessed by shuttle bus in various tours. Above all, the wildlife in the national park is spectacular and unparalleled.
The no less fascinating Kenai Fjord National Park can be found in southern Alaska. In summer it offers fantastic hiking trails and the opportunity to experience whales (with a bit of luck even orcas), sea lions and many other species up close on a boat tour. The drive to Aialik Bay with a stop in front of the glacier is breathtaking.
Other attractions are the numerous natural monuments, for example the Admirality Island National Monument at the extreme southeastern tip of Alaska.
Alaska weather in March, April, and May
Average daily temperatures between -23 ° C and 15 ° C can be expected over the next three months. May is the mildest in Fairbanks, while March is noticeably colder in Barrow. Temperatures in Fairbanks are between -6 and 15 ° C, in Nome between -8 and 6 ° C, in Annette Island between 7 and 13 ° C and in Barrow between -23 and -4 ° C.
Do you want to go on a beach holiday? The water temperatures are in March, April and May 6-7 ° C. So the weather is not suitable for swimming.
In March it rains on 1 (Barrow) to 18 days (Annette Island), in April on 1 (Barrow) to 16 days (Annette Island) and in May on 1 (Barrow) to 15 days (Annette Island), depending on the region.
In the period from March to May , the sun shines on average between 0 and 10 hours a day. The sunniest weather is in Fairbanks in April, while the sun is less in Barrow in March.
