Winter in anchorage.... comparisons.... (Fairbanks, Eagle: relocate, travel, job)

[niclh]

Hi to everyone again....

I was curious to see what everyone's opinions were on the Winters in Anchorage.. We are planning to relocate their in 2008 and I see the average temps never really get below 0... I searched around and saw somewhere where mal_flisk said that it was no colder than Chicago... I talked with a buddy of mine on the phone the other day and told him I was going to move to Anchorage and he (being from Colorado) said it was FREEZING, he said he spent a month there in the winter and was easily below -25 out and it was so cold you couldn't even make a snowball?

So besides going out there, which we plan to do around November probably, how would you compare it to that of another state? I've read other posts where people (Rance maybe) have said that MN is colder in the Winter than Anchorage...

Just looking for some feedback... My girlfriend has a chihuaha/weiner dog and just how long would it take to get Hypothermia in AK?

[sweetana3]

Average temps are like average snowfall or average rain. I lived there for 23 years and some winters there was little very cold weather and some it could be minus 20 for two weeks. Check out the high and low rather than the average and see for yourself.

[BudinAk]

I too have heard that it is colder in MN than in Anchorage, but I don't know that for a fact. It wouldn't surprise me though. However, I used to live in Anchorage, and it DOES get cold there. I've seen it -20, or more, several times. I've heard, that on average, it is a little warmer in Anchorage than in several of the northern states. I'd check the stats, to be sure. One difference is the winters are LONGER here, since we are so far north...

Bud

[bongoben]

I lived in Alaska for one wonderful year before moving on in my travels. Being originally from Wisconsin the Anchorage winter (2005-2006) really wasn't bad at all weather-wise. The coldest it really got in the city was right around 0 degrees which isn't all that bad. I spent a good many of my days off out showshoeing through the woods or boarding at Alyeska. The dark comes on early but it allows you the chance to bundle up, drive out of town a little ways and watch the stars and northern lights.
Like I said, I only have 1 Alaskan winter under my belt but in that short amount of time I spent most of it outdoors because it really wasn't too uncomfortable.

[flu189]

I did 22 winters in Anchorage and now live in Vt. The overall temperatures are comparable, but cold weather in Anchorage comes sooner and lasts longer. The daylight cycle also back in the lower 48 provides for longer days. The coldest I saw in Anchorage was back in '89 at -34. Here in Vt we had -22 last year with more snow than Anchorage. A good way to compare climate between two locations is to check the seasonal average heating degree days (HDD) Anchorage I believe averages 10,800 to 11,000 and here in Vt we are at 7,600 a season.

[Alaskan_Adventurer]

Anchorage winters seem to be a hit or miss. Some years ago(Maybe 5 or 6), we didn't get snow until January. Almost unbelievable, but it happens. Last winter on the other hand, was really harsh. We had a good 5-6 weeks of below zero weather, which is very unusual. About 3 weeks solid during one stretch. The other 2-3 weeks was spread out. A few cold days here, and another there. We also had a really late spring, or what we call Spring break up. We were getting the nasty cold in March of all times. Last winter we got 120+ inches of snow and broke a few records. The previous winter(2005-2006) was extremely mild, which wasn't so bad. So totally hit or miss.

[losercore]

I live in Madison WI now but spent 6 years in Anchorage. WI is way colder and just as long as winter in Anchorage.

I would take an Anchorage winter over Madison any day. You will do fine in comparison.

The only big difference is the daylight shortage in winter. That is different. Although the summers more than make up for that. You can not beat an Alaska summer. Not even a comparison to the humid, stormy mid-west. Summers in AK are well worth the winters...

[rotorhead]

When we moved up to Eagle River, it rained every day in November. They were actually having problems with flooding in Anchorage right up through December. Of course, the year before they got about 40 inches of snow in one storm about the middle of Nov., so go figure. November is a wild card, but its not gonna be warm even if its mostly rain instead of snow.

Most winters it seems to hover between zero and freezing through Dec., with a few patches in the negatives in Jan. and Feb. Worst we saw it was about -20 degrees F. for about ten days, maybe two weeks. Pretty cold when you've got an outside job, but nothing compared to Fairbanks. Lots of variation when the days starting getting longer in March, but usually around freezing again. Anything goes from March onwards, could be nice or could snow intermittantly into June.

The larger factor is the light, in Dec. and Jan. the sun never gets over halfway up the zenith before it starts down again, only about 5-6 hours when its above the horizon at all and lots of days overcast with low clouds. You expect to drive to work and back in the dark, but its a bummer when you don't even get any sunshine at lunch.