Alaska Climate – June 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, and Sitka
This month in numbers
Alaska experienced a warmer-than-average June, with the mean temperature reaching 10.28°C, an anomaly of +1°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. This ranked as the 28th warmest June in 77 years of records. Maximum temperatures also saw a notable increase, averaging 15.33°C, which is +1.3°C above the baseline and ranked 26th warmest. Precipitation for June was below average, at 45.21 mm, a deficit of 18.9 mm, making it the 66th wettest June on record. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest June for land temperatures on record, with an anomaly of +1°C.
What changed
Looking at the broader picture, the April–June 2026 period saw an average temperature of 3.54°C, an anomaly of +1.2°C, ranking as the 33rd warmest such period in 77 years. Precipitation for this three-month span was slightly above average at 59.78 mm, ranking 21st. Alaska's long-term warming trend is significant, with the latest full-year average temperature for 2025 at -1.33°C, making it the 8th warmest year on record. The state has warmed by +1.98°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline.
What’s driving change?
The warmer conditions in Alaska are largely driven by , where the high northern latitudes are warming at a faster rate than the global average. This month saw a significant cluster of wildfire activity, with four active wildfire events recorded between June 27 and July 12, representing 100% of the annual total for the past 12 months. This unusual concentration of wildfires followed a period of increased lightning strikes in mid-June, with over 9,200 cloud-to-ground strikes recorded in two days across Interior Alaska, igniting dozens of new fires. These lightning-sparked fires, combined with warmer and drier conditions, contributed to the active fire season, particularly in areas with dry duff layers. Residents in areas like Anderson faced "GO!" evacuation orders due to rapidly spreading fires. You can track the latest developments at Extreme Weather tracker.
Looking ahead
The seasonal outlook for July through September suggests warmer than normal temperatures are likely for most of Alaska, influenced by a developing El Niño.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – USA
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) or 1991–2020 (rainfall). See methodology.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Alaska
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Alaska – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – Alaska
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfc · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in Alaska. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (-3.7°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 28.6°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Feb (+3.5°C).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Rainfall & Precipitation
Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Alaska
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Alaska changing?
Alaska is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Alaska come from?
Climate data for Alaska comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Alaska climate data cover?
The Alaska climate profile covers Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla and surrounding areas. Alaska climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Alaska climate update refreshed?
The Alaska climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.