WEATHER CONDITIONS

June 1-June 15

June 15-July 25

July 25-August 25

Aug 25-Sep 15

Unlikely

Unlikely

Increasing likelihood >50%

Unlikely

Possible

Possible

Unlikely

Rain:

Alaska has an exaggerated reputation for being rainy because most of the people who visit here come up on cruise ships!

They cruise the Inside Passage, where the warm waters of the Japan Current fill the air with moisture that fall on the costal mountains of southeast Alaska.  Yes, it rains a lot down there, but away from the coast, most of Alaska and the Yukon Territory is technically semi-arid, getting only 10 - 15 inches of precipitation per year. 

Below is the monthly average rainfall for summer in Fairbanks and Anchorage as provided by the National Weather Service.  

Now that's not so scary is it?

Rain is the most unpredictable part of Alaska's unpredictable weather.  Statically, June is the driest month with the chance of rain increasing until late August, when the it tends to get dryer again.  That being said, it is very common for a season not to follow this pattern, and the difference from one week to the next is likely to be greater than the difference between the months.  

A typical 8 day tour will get about 1/2 day of rain.  

Now of course, all this doesn't mean it won't rain on you.  This far north, anything can happen at any time.  The best way to avoid rain is to have all the gear we recommend.  Then, perhaps, the irony inherent in nature will send us perfect weather just to spite you.  

That's a outcome we can all live with!

And you'll have a whole bunch of fancy rain gear...  It'll come in handy somewhere!!