Help me get a realistic view of average monthly weather in Anchorage (Fairbanks: real estate, live)

[SirLancelot911]

I'm from Seattle. Seattle absolutely positively sucks between about October and March, thanks to constant rain and virtually endless gray gloomy skies. I can't think of a single year for the last decade at least I haven't wanted to move away this time every year.

The spring months can be great or suck. Trees and flowers are blooming which is great, and average temperates are relatively comfortable, but there's still a lot of rain between the sometimes-rare peeks of sun through the clouds.

Summer (July-September) is usually pretty nice, with comfortable average temperates. There are obviously still exceptions to this as we've had soe pretty wet and miserable July's. At least August and September are usually dependable as having a healthy amount of sunshine. Then comes October again to complete the cycle.

There's a slight possibility I may have to move or at least be open to moving elsewhere thanks to my job situation this year or next, which makes me wonder about Anchorage as a possible landing site for raising my family.

Obviously the October-March months in Anchorage are primarily snowy and icy, which I don't think I'd have any issue with. I love snow, and love temperature extremes. I haven't lived with snow for 6 months straight yet, but don't imagine it'd be awful.

My questions start here:

1) About when does it usually seem the snow is more gone than present? Is the ground usually pretty clear in April? May?
2) I've read multiple times that late spring/early summer is an absolutely awesome time to be in Anchorage. Looking at weather averages it *seems* to be pretty dry this time of year. Am I correct? Would you tend to describe it as more sunny than cloudy/rainy, or still a little lop-sided towards the clouds/rain?
3) August/September average rainfall looks to be considerably heavier than Seattle. Would you describe it more as constant rain with no let-up, or periods of heavy rain punctuated by periods of sunshine and summer weather? If I moved there would I pretty much have to wear a raincoat most of August September?

Thanks. I'm sure I'll have more questions...

[heathen]

To me, Anchorage weather seems a lot like Seattle spring (april - june) or fall (mid sept - oct) weather, but year round. I'm not talking about temperature, just cloudiness. There are definitely some nice days, but it rarely feels stable or reliable like Seattle does in mid - late summer. It's really not terrible, but it can be frustrating.

- The snow is usually gone sometime in April. Of course it takes warm weather to melt a bunch of snow, so April afternoons are often surprisingly comfortable, though there's not a lot to do outdoors in those sloppy, deteriorating snow conditions. In two or three recent years, really large amounts of snow have fallen in the last week of April, to the dismay of many residents... It melts quick then though.

- Statistically, that's our driest time of year for sure. And March - May are noticeably sunnier than the rest of the year if you're paying attention. Unfortunately, like I said above, April is less awesome than it could be due to the crappy snow. Breakup is by far the least visually attractive time of year. March is great for winter activities though, and May is starting to dry out for summer. Green-up is right around the middle of May. This is much more significant here than in Seattle...

- August and September can feel very consistently rainy, but I don't think it ever gets quite to the point of November/December in Seattle. I don't know if it's an anomaly or what, but I recall having a considerable stretch of beautiful indian summer with fall colors in September each of my 4 years up here. Yes, lots of general dampness though.. October is often especially bleak, switching between rain and snow, with lots of clouds and rapidly increasing darkness...



If you really want to head north, are interested in temperature extremes, don't mind cold and snow, but dislike cloudy weather, don't rule out Fairbanks. Considerably more sun year-round than Anchorage. The winter's only a little longer, though much colder, and the summer feels like summer (at least sometimes, haha..).

[NOTAM]

go to Fairbanks

[cjg5]

Fairbanks does seem the better option. Sure it has much colder winters, but it has has much warmer summers, and I often hear of "sunny Fairbanks" when people who live there or have visited talk about it. Several years ago my grandma went to Fairbanks with her sister, who lived in Wasilla yet had never been to Fairbanks herself, during the summer. She said the AC in their room was broken, and they both thought they might die in the heat. I understand 80 degree weather occurs most summers, with 70 degree weather being the norm every summer in Fairbanks. 90s are rare, but not unheard of as well there.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by NOTAM

go to Fairbanks

Yep, Real Estate is about to get really cheap there soon!

[cjg5]

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

Yep, Real Estate is about to get really cheap there soon!

Why is this?

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by cjg5

Why is this?

//www.city-data.com/forum/alask...l#post23051783

[tigre79]

Originally Posted by heathen

The snow is usually gone sometime in April. Of course it takes warm weather to melt a bunch of snow, so April afternoons are often surprisingly comfortable, though there's not a lot to do outdoors in those sloppy, deteriorating snow conditions.

How late do people ski at Hatcher Pass and Turnagain? In good snow years here there's good coverage through April and possibly May up at the Pass, and even after our crummy snowfall last year a few of the more dedicated folks were finding runs into the summer.

[heathen]

Originally Posted by tigre79

How late do people ski at Hatcher Pass and Turnagain?

This is true. April stays fun in the especially snowy mountain areas, including Hatcher and Turnagain. It's just the populated lowlands that get soggy and gross (then May is usually the other way around). Some south facing wind exposed areas are already good for snow free hiking in April as well. I'm mainly thinking of western Turnagain Arm, just south of Anchorage.

[Rance]

With all the snow we've gotten this year there should be some good spring skiing well into April.