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Alaska is infamous for it's unforgiving winters, and because of it, it's population has remained relatively low, so which place in all of Alaska has the best climate? And which has the warmest? If a thread on this has already been made then I'm sorry, and can you give me the link. Also as a side note, which do you think is the worst climate? And which has the coldest?
out of all these I think Hyder might have the best overall temps but its precipitation is really horrible. Are there any places in southeast Alaska that have a microclimate that is dry, or are the mountains not large enough to form rain shadows?
I like Fairbanks the best Temps hit -45C at least once a year, average lows near -25C during winter, 65 inches of snow, and mild summers (albeit mosquito-ridden). I'm truly envious of central Alaska. There are some great places there like Bettles and Prospect.
Barrow is a close second. A bit gloomy and dry with summers too cool and mediocre record lows (compared to the interior), but perfect winter averages and otherwise awesome.
Not too fond of the other available choices, but outside of those:
There's a valley in the southeast-central part of the state where places like Tok, Northway, Chicken, and Snag are located. Those places are all awesome (they are responsible for some of the coldest recorded temps in North America, with extremes there ranging from -80 to -70F).
Besides that, there is a place known as Ambler in the northwest part of the state, whose climate I really like for the nice mix of extreme cold & extreme snow.
Alaska is infamous for it's unforgiving winters, and because of it, it's population has remained relatively low, so which place in all of Alaska has the best climate? And which has the warmest? If a thread on this has already been made then I'm sorry, and can you give me the link. Also as a side note, which do you think is the worst climate? And which has the coldest?
out of all these I think Hyder might have the best overall temps but its precipitation is really horrible. Are there any places in southeast Alaska that have a microclimate that is dry, or are the mountains not large enough to form rain shadows?
Wasilla has a little warmer summers than Anchorage and similar winters so it wins. It could be a bit snowier too, 50" means it won't be able to get deep often (snow depth statistics for a nearby station here: Wassila 2 NE, Alaska. Places like Skwentna and Talkeetna get over 100" (nearby Hayes River gets 210") but the snow cover lasts too long.
I just came across this place: Mac Leod Harbor. Only 6 years of data but it averaged 264"/6720mm precipitation with a wettest year of 332.29"/8440mm in 1976, the wettest year on record in Alaska. Little Port Walter is the wettest place at 226" and is the wettest place with longer data (50-55 years). Both are wetter than Whittier, but much less snowy.
I would choose Anchorage, AK from the list you posted, which mainly consists of larger cities and towns. Valdez, AK would be cool, with over 250 inches of annual snowfall. In my opinion the best places ion Alaska are the towns around Southcentral AK that have 100+ inches of snow, such as this one:
Wasilla has a little warmer summers than Anchorage and similar winters so it wins. It could be a bit snowier too, 50" means it won't be able to get deep often (snow depth statistics for a nearby station here: Wassila 2 NE, Alaska. Places like Skwentna and Talkeetna get over 100" (nearby Hayes River gets 210") but the snow cover lasts too long.
I just came across this place: Mac Leod Harbor. Only 6 years of data but it averaged 264"/6720mm precipitation with a wettest year of 332.29"/8440mm in 1976, the wettest year on record in Alaska. Little Port Walter is the wettest place at 226" and is the wettest place with longer data (50-55 years). Both are wetter than Whittier, but much less snowy.
Wasilla and Palmer also get a lot of wind so the snow depth is pretty bad there usually.
Anchorage is kinda boring but it is probably one of the best overall climates in Alaska. I lived there before. 2nd and 3rd place go to Valdez and Fairbanks.
Wow!! so many replies. Sorry for not placing Whittier and Valdez and not giving more options for central Alaska. Is there any way I can add more options, or is that impossible? Im kinda new here. Also I like Skagway considering that it's Alaska and very dry for the panhandle.
I would choose Anchorage, AK from the list you posted, which mainly consists of larger cities and towns. Valdez, AK would be cool, with over 250 inches of annual snowfall. In my opinion the best places ion Alaska are the towns around Southcentral AK that have 100+ inches of snow, such as this one:
If you love snow so much then you will like Hyder since it gets 224.49 inches of snow a year (82 inches more than Big River Lakes) and it has 4 months of <60F, compared to "Big River Lakes" which only has 3 months of <60F.
Fairbanks. Winters are too long and a bit cold, but summers are very nice.
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Temps hit -45C at least once a year, average lows near -25C during winter, 65 inches of snow, and mild summers (albeit mosquito-ridden). I'm truly envious of central Alaska. There are some great places there like Bettles and Prospect.
