Juneau

Alaska Weather in October

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Alaska, the United States of America in October.

Thinking about venturing to Alaska, the United States of America this October and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Alaska in October

Alaska, the United States of America is a region in the United States of America. The weather in Alaska in October can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from very cold to cold and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Denali National Park and Preserve at -6°C (21°F) to cold in Ketchikan at 11°C (52°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 7°C (45°F) in Ketchikan and -12°C (10°F) in Denali National Park and Preserve.

To explore the conditions in Alaska, the United States of America in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In October, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snow/rainfall in Fairbanks with an average of 25 mm (1 in) to heavy snow/rainfall in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve with 522 mm (21 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine amounts are decent in most places. Anchorage gets approximately 117 hours of sunlight in October, offering a reasonable amount of both bright and cloudy periods. Curious about sunnier destinations? Our weather planner makes it easy to find places worldwide with pleasant weather.

Explore Alaska by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Alaska — and find the best time to visit. (based on Anchorage)

Best Places to Visit in Alaska in October

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Alaska.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Alaska

What is the weather like in October for some of the most popular destinations in Alaska, the United States of America?

Temperature range in Alaska (October)

Precipitation variation in Alaska (October)

Anchorage

In October Anchorage generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C (43°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
6°C (43°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
1°C (34°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Monthly sun hours
160 hours
117 hours
83 hours
Monthly rainfall
131 mm (5.2 in)
101 mm (4 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
12 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Fairbanks

In October Fairbanks generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C (36°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C (21°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
2°C (36°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-17°C (1°F)
Monthly sun hours
122 hours
85 hours
71 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
49 mm (1.9 in)
25 mm (1 in)
22 mm (0.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Juneau

In October Juneau generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C (43°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
6°C (43°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
1°C (34°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Monthly sun hours
112 hours
65 hours
57 hours
Monthly rainfall
368 mm (14 in)
359 mm (14 in)
285 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
22 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Kenai

In October Kenai generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
8°C (46°F)
2°C (36°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
3°C (37°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Monthly rainfall
140 mm (5.5 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
83 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
14 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Soldotna

In October Soldotna generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
8°C (46°F)
2°C (36°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
1°C (34°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Monthly rainfall
130 mm (5.1 in)
104 mm (4.1 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
14 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Alaska, in the United States of America.

Popular cities in October

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Alaska in October.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Anchorage 6°C (43°F) 1°C (34°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Fairbanks 2°C (36°F) -6°C (21°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Juneau 6°C (43°F) 1°C (34°F) 359 mm (14 in)
Kenai 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Soldotna 8°C (46°F) 1°C (34°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Ketchikan 11°C (52°F) 7°C (45°F) 422 mm (17 in)

Alaska weather in October: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Alaska, the United States of America in October?

October in Alaska, the United States of America brings poor weather. In Anchorage, daytime temperatures are typically around 6°C (43°F) and nighttime lows hover near 1°C (34°F).

What is the average temperature in Alaska, the United States of America in October?

Anchorage averages a daytime maximum of 6°C (43°F) in October, with overnight lows close to 1°C (34°F).

Does Alaska, the United States of America get a lot of rain in October?

Yes, October tends to be a wetter month in Alaska, the United States of America. Average rainfall in Anchorage sits around 101 mm (4 in).

Is October a Good Time to Visit Alaska, the United States of America?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Anchorage, October may not be the ideal time to visit Alaska, the United States of America.

On average, the best time to visit Alaska, the United States of America is in July with generally pleasant weather in Anchorage. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Alaska.

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 travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.