The idea of Alaska as a vast, unchanging landscape perpetually buried under snow is a widespread misconception that overlooks the state’s immense size and climatic diversity. Spanning nearly 570,000 square miles—roughly one-fifth the size of the contiguous United States—Alaska features radically different environments, from temperate rainforests to polar deserts. The presence of snow varies dramatically by location and season, meaning the answer to whether it snows year-round depends entirely on the state’s distinct climate zones or elevations.
The Short Answer and Regional Climate Zones
Alaska’s climate is governed by three primary zones, each with a unique relationship to snowfall and temperature, confirming that snow does not cover the entire state year-round.
The Arctic Zone, or Northern Slope, experiences the longest snow cover, often lasting eight to nine months, with mean annual temperatures well below freezing. Despite the long duration, the total annual snowfall is relatively light, sometimes averaging less than six inches of water-equivalent precipitation.
The Interior Zone, which includes cities like Fairbanks, has a continental climate with extreme seasonal temperature swings. Winters are long and frigid, leading to significant snow accumulation. However, summers are warm enough to completely melt the snowpack, resulting in bare ground for several months.
In contrast, the Coastal/Maritime Zone runs along the Gulf of Alaska and includes the Southeast Panhandle. This area has milder winters due to the moderating influence of the ocean and receives tremendous amounts of snow. Locations like Thompson Pass near Valdez hold North American records, yet warmer temperatures cause the snow to melt and refreeze frequently, preventing excessive, long-term accumulation at sea level.
Permanent Snow and Ice Coverage
While most of the state experiences a seasonal melt, specific, high-altitude locations retain perennial snow and ice. These permanent features exist where the annual accumulation of snow exceeds the amount lost to melt and sublimation over decades, a phenomenon known as a positive mass balance. This condition is necessary for the formation of glaciers and ice fields, which cover approximately 23,000 square miles of the state.
Glaciers are ancient, compressed snow that has transformed into dense ice, making them impervious to seasonal summer temperatures. Massive ice fields, such as the Juneau Icefield, and the high peaks of the Alaska Range, including Denali, retain snowcaps throughout the summer. This retention is due to their extreme elevation and cool summer temperatures. These permanent ice formations are the only parts of Alaska where the ground is never completely free of ice or snow.
Seasonal Snowfall and Melt Cycles
For the majority of Alaskans living in populated areas, the annual snow experience is defined by a distinct seasonal cycle. In Southcentral cities like Anchorage and Interior hubs like Fairbanks, the first lasting snowfall typically begins in October or November. The snowpack steadily builds throughout the cold winter months, often reaching its peak depth in February or March.
The transition from winter to spring is marked by the crucial “breakup” period, where rising temperatures and increasing daylight hours initiate the rapid melt. In Fairbanks, measurable snowfall generally ends around late April, leading to a snowless period that lasts approximately five months until late September. Anchorage’s snowpack similarly declines rapidly in the spring, with the ground becoming bare through the summer and early fall.