Alaska weather in January
Thinking about venturing to Alaska this January and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:
What is the weather like in Alaska in January?
Alaska is a region in the United States of America. Alaska offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In January, one might encounter temperatures that range from very cold to cold, and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy. In January, it is winter.
The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Point Barrow at -20°C to cold in Ketchikan at 4°C. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 0°C in Ketchikan and -26°C in Point Barrow. Typically, it's the chilliest month of the year. Making it a great time for staying indoors and enjoying the warmth. Make sure you're prepared by packing the right winter outfits.
In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Point Barrow with an average of 14 mm to heavy snowfall in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve with 423 mm. Most areas see fewer sunny days, with a projection of about 85 hours of sunshine in Anchorage. This reduced sunlight makes it ideal for those who prefer dimmer, overcast conditions over bright sunny days.
For a closer look at January's conditions in Alaska, see the map below. For a more detailed look at Alaska's yearly weather, check out our Alaska climate page.
Where to go in Alaska in January
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Popular destinations in Alaska
What is the weather like in January for the 5 most popular destinations in Alaska?
Average weather in Anchorage
In January Anchorage generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -5°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Fairbanks
In January Fairbanks generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -15°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -23°C and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Juneau
In January Juneau generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -7°C and heavy monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Kenai
In January Kenai generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -7°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Soldotna
In January Soldotna generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -9°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Alaska, in the United States of America.
Is January the best time to visit Alaska?
Given the typically poor weather conditions in Anchorage, January may not be the ideal time to visit Alaska.
Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in July offering mostly pleasant weather in Anchorage. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December tend to be poor.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in Alaska.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the United States of America.
Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.