The sea temperature at Anchorage today is 5.9 °C (43 °F) – only for cold-water swimmers. The usual October average is 7.5 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 10.7 °C to 5.9 °C. Rarely swimmable – the sea seldom averages 18 °C or more. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.8°C / 35.2°F | 2.3°C / 36.1°F | 2.7°C / 36.8°F |
| February | 1.2°C / 34.2°F | 1.8°C / 35.3°F | 2.2°C / 35.9°F |
| March | 1.3°C / 34.4°F | 1.6°C / 34.8°F | 1.8°C / 35.2°F |
| April | 1.2°C / 34.2°F | 1.8°C / 35.2°F | 2.6°C / 36.6°F |
| May | 5.3°C / 41.6°F | 6.3°C / 43.4°F | 7.3°C / 45.2°F |
| June | 10.1°C / 50.1°F | 11.5°C / 52.8°F | 13.3°C / 55.9°F |
| July | 13.2°C / 55.8°F | 14.2°C / 57.5°F | 15.0°C / 59.0°F |
| August | 13.9°C / 56.9°F | 14.6°C / 58.3°F | 15.2°C / 59.3°F |
| September | 11.8°C / 53.2°F | 12.0°C / 53.7°F | 12.5°C / 54.5°F |
| October | 6.9°C / 44.5°F | 7.5°C / 45.5°F | 8.5°C / 47.2°F |
| November | 2.4°C / 36.3°F | 2.9°C / 37.1°F | 3.3°C / 37.9°F |
| December | 1.3°C / 34.3°F | 2.0°C / 35.6°F | 2.8°C / 37.0°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -5.2°C / 22.7°F | -4.9°C / 23.3°F | -3.9°C / 25.0°F |
| February | -5.5°C / 22.1°F | -4.6°C / 23.8°F | -2.7°C / 27.1°F |
| March | -3.9°C / 25.0°F | -2.1°C / 28.3°F | 0.5°C / 32.8°F |
| April | -0.4°C / 31.3°F | 2.2°C / 35.9°F | 5.0°C / 41.0°F |
| May | 5.9°C / 42.5°F | 8.1°C / 46.6°F | 10.5°C / 50.9°F |
| June | 11.3°C / 52.4°F | 13.2°C / 55.7°F | 15.4°C / 59.6°F |
| July | 13.2°C / 55.7°F | 14.8°C / 58.6°F | 16.6°C / 61.9°F |
| August | 12.5°C / 54.4°F | 14.1°C / 57.4°F | 16.1°C / 61.0°F |
| September | 8.3°C / 46.9°F | 9.9°C / 49.8°F | 11.9°C / 53.5°F |
| October | 2.6°C / 36.7°F | 3.8°C / 38.8°F | 5.8°C / 42.4°F |
| November | -4.8°C / 23.3°F | -4.3°C / 24.3°F | -2.9°C / 26.7°F |
| December | -7.4°C / 18.7°F | -7.2°C / 19.1°F | -6.5°C / 20.4°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Anchorage holidays
Between the Chugach Mountains and the waters of Cook Inlet, Anchorage is Alaska's largest city and the usual starting point for trips around the south of the state. It sits on a triangle of land between two long arms of the inlet, Knik Arm to the north and Turnagain Arm to the south.
Beaches
The Cook Inlet shoreline of Anchorage is for sightseeing, not swimming: the water of Cook Inlet is cold and grey with glacial silt, the tidal range is large, and the mudflats exposed at low tide can trap people like quicksand, so they should never be walked on. Point Woronzof, west of downtown Anchorage, looks across the inlet to Mount Susitna and, on clear days, to Denali, and Kincaid Park has bluffs above a sandy shore at the end of the coastal trail. The sea temperature on this page is measured off Point Woronzof in Cook Inlet.
Things to do
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail runs about 18 km from downtown Anchorage past Earthquake Park to Kincaid Park. In summer, salmon run up Ship Creek near the city centre. The Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center cover the state's history and cultures, and Flattop Mountain in Chugach State Park is a popular hike with views over the city. The Seward Highway follows Turnagain Arm south past Beluga Point to Girdwood, and on towards Whittier and Seward, departure points for glacier and wildlife cruises.
Weather and best time to visit
From May to June the sea at Anchorage gains about 5 °C (9 °F), its biggest monthly rise of the year.
Anchorage has a subarctic climate moderated by the sea. Summers are mild, with long days – around the June solstice the sun is up for more than 19 hours – and they are the main season for visitors. Late summer is often the wettest part of the year. Winters are long, cold and snowy, with short days, but they bring skiing and the chance to see the northern lights, usually from about September to April.
Hotels and where to stay
Downtown Anchorage, around 4th and 5th Avenue, has many hotels and restaurants and the start of the coastal trail. Hotels near the airport and Lake Hood, a busy seaplane base, suit early flights, while Girdwood, about 60 km south, offers a stay in a mountain resort.
Signature hotels: The Hotel Captain Cook (Downtown) · Marriott Anchorage Downtown (Downtown)
Airport and getting there
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) lies about 8 km south-west of downtown, a 10- to 15-minute drive. In summer, Alaska Railroad trains run from the depot by Ship Creek to Seward and Whittier in the south and to Denali and Fairbanks in the north, while winter services are more limited. The Seward and Glenn highways lead out of Anchorage.