What to wear in Alaska in April and May?
Waterproof/resistant clothing is essential for Alaska's climate and should always be the top layer. For cooler days, wool/fleece sweaters and socks work well in layering and are very warm. Clothing Quick Tip: In May, you wear a waterproof jacket, water-resistant shoes, and waterproof pants on most days in Alaska.
April Weather in Anchorage Alaska, United States. Daily high temperatures increase by 12°F, from 40°F to 52°F, rarely falling below 32°F or exceeding 59°F. Daily low temperatures increase by 11°F, from 26°F to 37°F, rarely falling below 14°F or exceeding 42°F.
April and May are the driest months along Alaska's coast and there are fewer crowds in both town and on the water. You will find the best prices of the year on small boat tours of Alaska as well at this time.
For a coat, look for lightweight and waterproof. A light fleece is a great option because the fabric doesn't easily absorb water and can keep you comfortable through changing temps. Waterproof shells to put on top of fleece or a zip-up are great for Alaska summer days.
July is peak season in Alaska and also typically the warmest month of the summer.
Add a top layer of a lightweight or heavy weight (depending on the weather) coat to keep you warm. You'll also want to bring heavy weight pants rated for the extreme elements. To help keep your legs warm, add fleece-lined leggings, poly pro long underwear or thermals under your outer layer.
Anchorage typically has at least 5 inches (13 cm) of snow on the ground for 11 days this month. The snow normally accumulates to 10 inches (25 cm) or deeper on 7 days.
Visiting Alaska in the spring helps you save money and still have a great experience. You'll feel like you have (more) Alaska to yourself but can still book the flights, cruises, and tours on your Alaska bucket list.
The average sliding 31-day snowfall during April in Fairbanks is decreasing, starting the month at 1.7 inches, when it rarely exceeds 4.5 inches or falls below -0.0 inches, and ending the month at 0.6 inches, when it rarely exceeds 2.3 inches or falls below -0.0 inches.
The northern lights occur all four seasons of the year, although they are harder to see under the Midnight Sun. The best time to see the northern lights in Alaska is between August and April, when less daylight leads to darker night skies.
What is the rainiest month in Alaska?
August is the wettest month in Alaska.
Most people plan at least three days in Anchorage during their Alaska travels. No matter how long you have, there are many ways to explore. Eat your way through Anchorage, dive into Alaska Native cultures, enjoy the great outdoors, search for bears, or see just how much you can fit into one day under the midnight sun.
In fact, temperatures can routinely rise above 80 degrees, so make certain you bring along plenty of sunscreen. Even in colder areas, any exposed skin can be prone to sunburn that is intensified by glare off of snow. Use a high-SPF sunscreen and always remember to reapply.
You'll want to bring a mix of short sleeve and long sleeve shirts for your summer trip to Alaska. Ideally you'll even have a few that you can layer together so adjust for changing temperature throughout the day. We found athletic wicking shirts to be the most comfortable option for hiking on warm days.
Temperatures will continue to drop, with highs only reaching the mid 50s and lows going down to the mid 30s. Therefore, if you booked a September cruise to Alaska, make sure to bring heavier layers of clothes, such as thick wool sweaters, socks, hats, a warmer jacket, and a sturdy pair of gloves.
For less-strenuous activities, heavy bibs and parkas are popular because they'll keep you very warm when you're stationary and they'll block the wind well. If you're hiking, skiing, or on snow shoes, you'll want to move with your lighter layers, but still be able to carry warm, outer insulating layers in your pack.
Do I need a passport to go to Alaska? United States residents do not need a passport to go to Alaska, but soon they will need a REAL ID. Beginning May 3, 2023, U.S. citizens aged 18 and up traveling by air within the United States will need REAL ID-compliant identification to go through airport security checkpoints.
During the summer season, expect average highs in the mid-60s F (high-teens C), and evening lows in the high 40s F (about 9C). See our post on Weather to find out more. Layering your clothing is therefore key in all seasons: t-shirt, sweatshirt or fleece, windbreaker and waterproof outer layer.
Xtratuf boots, popular amongst Alaskans. Approved and proven by the stars of Discovery Channel's hit show Deadliest Catch, these neoprene boots are an Alaska staple. Whether you're on the deck of a fishing vessel or at a downtown Anchorage pub, you'll see XTRATUF boots everywhere.
To dress for cold weather, you need three layers to work in concert for maximum warmth: Base layer: Your long underwear needs to keep your skin as dry as possible. Middle layer: Your fleece or puffy jacket needs to hang onto as much body heat as possible.
Is Alaska very cold?
Average temperatures in the interior range from about 45 to 75 °F (7 to 24 °C) in summer and about 20 to −10 °F (−7 to −23 °C) in winter. It is not uncommon, however, for temperatures to reach into the 90s F (about 34 °C) in summer or drop into the −60s F (about −54 °C) in winter.
Alaska is not actually dark for six months of the year, even in our northern cities. The entire state experiences varying hours of sunlight and darkness all year long. The long, dark hours of the winter season are due to Alaska's location on the globe.
The driest month in Anchorage is April with 0.52 inches of precipitation, and with 2.93 inches August is the wettest month.
Never keep food in a tent overnight (not even toothpaste or bug spray), and don't camp along animal paths, especially near a lake or river. Bears use these trails. Do try the local berries, but avoid the poisonous baneberry—it looks like a red black-eyed pea when ripe.
Money and Credit Cards
Most merchants, particularly in larger towns, accept credit cards. An emergency stash of cash is highly recommended, particularly if you plan to travel through small communities.
Alaska is an expensive destination, but you can travel there on a budget. It won't be the cheapest trip you've ever taken but it doesn't have to completely destroy your budget either.
The average day in Anchorage during April has 14.7 hours of daylight, with sunrise at 6:40 am and sunset at 9:20 pm.
April. After a long winter, Alaska begins to wake up in April, and that includes the wildlife. Small-ship cruise lines such as Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise Adventures have sailings into the wilderness where you may spot bears emerging from their slumber and admire huge waterfalls fueled by the snowmelt.
The best time to visit Fairbanks is from July to August. Shoulder seasons, including May to June and August through September, are also ideal.
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Alaska Climate Guide.
| Destination | Glacier Bay National Park |
|---|---|
| Mar | 41°F 4" |
| Apr | 48°F 3" |
| May | 55°F 3" |
| Jun | 61°F 2" |
Can you visit Denali in April?
Spring: April to May 19.
We begin plowing Denali's sole road no later than March, so ideally visitors can drive up to 30 miles into the park by early / mid April. However, heavy snow can fall in April, so vehicle access in the park is variable until more reliably warm weather arrives in May.
Be particularly careful if driving along mountain roads or areas that don't get as much maintenance. Overall, use your best judgment but try to drive as if winter were still here. April may not be a popular time to visit Alaska, but we think this state is great all year long.
Fairbanks' Aurora Season is from August 21 to April 21 and the aurora will be visible in Fairbanks an average of four out of five nights when the sky is clear and dark enough. Scientifically speaking, the aurora is dancing above year-round, but we can only see it during the Aurora Season when we have dark enough skies.
For the most part jeans and hiking pants (polyester/wool blends) are good for an Alaskan vacation. With jeans you just want to keep in mind that when cotton gets wet it is no longer warm. Along with layers it is important to bring a backpack.
For a coat, look for lightweight and waterproof. A light fleece is a great option because the fabric doesn't easily absorb water and can keep you comfortable through changing temps. Waterproof shells to put on top of fleece or a zip-up are great for Alaska summer days.
Overall, Alaska is very casual and tennis shoes are acceptable everywhere. It is encouraged to have a comfortable pair of walking shoes or tennis shoes as your staple footwear. Most trails around the lodges are very well maintained and this type of shoe is acceptable.