The average January temperature in Alaska has no single answer due to the state’s massive size and diverse geography, which spans multiple distinct climate zones. Weather conditions vary dramatically from the frozen Arctic coast to the comparatively mild rainforests of the Southeast Panhandle. Understanding the winter climate requires examining the specific data for the state’s major regions.
Regional Temperature Breakdown
The coldest average temperatures are consistently recorded in Interior Alaska, where cities like Fairbanks experience an average January high of only 3°F and a frigid average low of -13°F. This results in a monthly average air temperature that often hovers between -5°F and -7°F.
The Far North, or Arctic Slope, is also intensely cold, but often slightly less variable than the Interior. Utqiagvik averages a high of -2°F and a low of -11°F for the month.
In contrast, the Southcentral region, home to Anchorage, enjoys a much more moderate winter, with average highs around 23-24°F and lows near 11-14°F.
The warmest part of Alaska in January is the Southeast Panhandle, which experiences a temperate maritime climate. Juneau, the capital, sees average high temperatures reaching 33-34°F, often above freezing, and average lows around 24-26°F. Precipitation often falls as rain rather than snow.
Key Factors Shaping Alaska’s Winter Climate
The vast differences in January temperatures across Alaska are primarily governed by three major geographic and atmospheric factors.
Latitude is a primary driver, as regions north of the Arctic Circle experience the polar night during January, meaning the sun never rises above the horizon. This results in a continuous loss of heat, and even southern areas absorb minimal solar energy due to the low angle of the sun.
Another major influence is the distinction between maritime and continental climates. Coastal regions, particularly the Southcentral and Southeast, benefit from the moderating effect of the Pacific Ocean, which prevents temperatures from plummeting. The Interior is isolated from this influence, leading to a continental climate characterized by intense, persistent cold in winter.
This isolation is caused by the state’s immense mountain ranges, which act as powerful climatic barriers. The Alaska Range and the Coastal Mountains block warm, moist air masses moving inland from the Pacific Ocean. This prevents warmer air from reaching the Interior, allowing cold, dense air to pool in the valleys and creating deep freeze conditions.
Understanding Wind Chill and Record Lows
While average temperatures provide a baseline, the perceived cold is often more severe due to the wind chill factor. Wind chill is the apparent temperature felt on exposed skin, calculated by combining the air temperature and wind speed. The movement of air increases the rate of heat loss from the body, making the environment feel colder.
On the North Slope and in exposed mountain passes, the wind chill can drop to dangerous extremes. Alaska’s record low wind chill was recorded in the Brooks Range, reaching -97°F in 2014. For a sense of absolute air temperature extremes, the coldest temperature ever officially recorded in the United States occurred in Alaska: -80°F, set at Prospect Creek Camp in the Interior on January 23, 1971.