Alaska in Winter: Anchorage Weather and Things to Do

Alaska in winter is darker, colder and more welcoming than most visitors expect. In Anchorage, the largest city in the state, the shortest day of the year brings only about five and a half hours of daylight, yet the city fills with festivals, sled dogs, skiing and, on clear nights, the northern lights. This guide walks through Anchorage Alaska weather month by month, from November to March, with the temperatures, snowfall and daylight you can expect, then covers winter things to do in Anchorage and the best time to visit Alaska.

Anchorage Alaska winter weather at a glance

The figures below are the official 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Anchorage, recorded at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Temperatures are shown in degrees Fahrenheit, with degrees Celsius in parentheses, and snowfall in inches, with centimeters in parentheses.

Month	Average high	Average low	Average snowfall
November	29°F (−2°C)	18°F (−8°C)	12.6 in (32 cm)
December	25°F (−4°C)	14°F (−10°C)	18.2 in (46 cm)
January	23°F (−5°C)	11°F (−12°C)	12.4 in (31 cm)
February	27°F (−3°C)	15°F (−9°C)	13.4 in (34 cm)
March	33°F (1°C)	19°F (−7°C)	11.0 in (28 cm)

Alaska in November: winter arrives for real

November is when the Anchorage Alaska winter settles in. The average high is about 29°F (−2°C) and the average low is about 18°F (−8°C). Roughly a foot of snow falls on average, about 12.6 inches (32 centimeters). The number that surprises visitors most is the light: each day is noticeably shorter than the last as the city heads toward the winter solstice.

Alaska in December: the darkest and snowiest month

December is both the darkest and the snowiest month of the year in Anchorage. About 18.2 inches (46 centimeters) of snow falls on average, and the average high is about 25°F (−4°C). On the winter solstice, December 21, the city receives only about five and a half hours of daylight, with sunrise around 10:15 in the morning and sunset shortly before 4 in the afternoon. Many residents drive to work in the dark and drive home in the dark. The encouraging part is that the light begins returning the very next day.

January: the coldest month

January is the coldest month in Anchorage. The average high is about 23°F (−5°C) and the average low is about 11°F (−12°C). The lowest temperature ever recorded in the city was −34°F (−37°C), on January 5, 1975. Even so, the days are already growing: daylight rises from roughly five and three-quarter hours on January 1 to nearly eight hours by the end of the month.

February: milder, brighter and festival season

February is milder and brighter, with an average high of about 27°F (−3°C) and about 13.4 inches (34 centimeters) of snow. It is also festival season. Late in the month, Anchorage hosts Fur Rondy, short for Fur Rendezvous, a winter festival that runs for about twelve days from late February into early March. Its events include snow sculptures, a parade and the Running of the Reindeer, in which crowds run down a snowy downtown street alongside reindeer.

March: winter starts to loosen its grip

By March the average high climbs to about 33°F (1°C), and daylight grows from about ten and a half hours on March 1 to about thirteen hours by the end of the month. Early in March, sled dog teams run an 11-mile ceremonial start of the Iditarod right through downtown Anchorage. The official restart takes place the next day in Willow, north of the city, and from there the teams head for Nome, on a trail of roughly 1,000 miles (about 1,600 kilometers).

Things to do in Anchorage, Alaska in winter

Winter does not close Anchorage down. If you are searching for things to do in Anchorage, Alaska between November and March, these are the main options:

• Festivals and the Iditarod start. Fur Rondy and the Iditarod ceremonial start both take place in downtown Anchorage, with events along 4th Avenue.
• Trails and skiing. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, reached from downtown, is a popular winter walk with views across Cook Inlet, and the Arctic Valley Ski Area offers skiing and snowboarding close to the city.
• Museums. The Anchorage Museum, the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Alaska Aviation Museum are good indoor choices on the coldest days.
• Dog sledding and glacier outings. Guided dog sledding, glacier walks and glacier hikes are offered from Anchorage in winter.
• Northern lights tours. Guided aurora tours leave from the city on winter evenings.

The northern lights in Anchorage

The northern lights can be seen from mid-August through April, so the whole of the Anchorage Alaska winter falls inside the season. You need clear skies and a dark spot away from city lights, and viewing is never guaranteed, so plan to stay several nights.

Moose in the city

Roughly 300 to 350 moose spend the winter in and around Anchorage. Deep snow makes it hard for moose to travel and buries their food, so they move to flatter, plowed areas where they come into closer contact with people and cars. Wildlife biologists advise drivers to assume that a moose near the road may step into traffic, and to slow down.

Does Alaska have six months of darkness?

A common question is whether Alaska has six months of darkness in winter. In Anchorage the answer is no. Even on the shortest day of the year the city receives about five and a half hours of daylight, and the amount grows every day after the solstice, passing ten hours by March 1. Winter in Anchorage is dark, but it is never a polar night.

The best time to visit Alaska

For most travelers, the best time to visit Alaska is summer, roughly mid-May through mid-September, when the days are long and the full range of tours, cruises and wildlife viewing is available. Winter suits a different kind of trip. Visit in late February or early March if you want Fur Rondy and the Iditarod start, with daylight already near ten and a half hours and rising, or in December if you would rather experience the deepest part of the season. Dress in layers, plan for short days, and allow extra time for driving in snow.

Frequently asked questions

How cold is Anchorage, Alaska in winter?

Average highs run from about 23°F (−5°C) in January to about 33°F (1°C) in March, and average lows range from about 11°F (−12°C) in January to about 19°F (−7°C) in March. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Anchorage was −34°F (−37°C), on January 5, 1975.

What is the coldest month in Anchorage?

January, with an average high of about 23°F (−5°C) and an average low of about 11°F (−12°C).

How much daylight does Anchorage get in winter?

About five and a half hours on the winter solstice, December 21. Daylight reaches nearly eight hours by the end of January, about ten and a half hours on March 1 and about thirteen hours by the end of March.

How much snow does Anchorage get?

December is the snowiest month, with about 18.2 inches (46 centimeters) on average. November, January, February and March each average between about 11 and 13.4 inches (28 to 34 centimeters).

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