Alaska has a varied climate that is typified by extremes and, more specifically, extreme changes. Because Alaska is almost completely surrounded by ocean, has huge areas of glaciation and permafrost (permanently frozen ground), and contains the highest peaks in North America, including Denali (Mount McKinley 20,320'), the weather is constantly changing.
On average, you can expect temperatures in the 45°-60° range. Plan on the probability of rain. Sunscreen is occasionally used. Earlier in the summer, the temperatures can approach 75°-80°. Later in the season (late August), temperatures occasionally dip to freezing at night.
A great deal of the temperature variation has to do with what part of Alaska we travel through. For example, one river trip begins five miles from the terminus of a major glacier in the Alaska Range. Other trips based out of western Alaska tend to be cooler and wetter on average, commonly receiving weather patterns off the Bering Sea to the west. The trips in southcentral Alaska are much more moderate, by comparison. |
