Personal blog about states
Alaska Cruise Weather in July Temperatures range on average between fifty and sixty degrees with mostly cool afternoons and evenings and chilly mornings and mid-day hours. The late nights and early mornings can be very cold , but these are also the hours when most people are asleep in their cabins.
July
July is a choice time to visit Alaska , with wildlife fully active, all trails accessible, long days and Alaska’s warmest average temperatures. This translates into a busy time for The Great Land, with a swell of visitors. Small ships avoid the crowds during this busy time for The Great Land.
In the Inside Passage – the region that most Alaskan cruises travel through – average high temperatures in May and September are only in the mid-50s. It rains 15 to 20 days a month during the cruise season. August and September are the wettest months, on average.
Alaska’s Interior Rain is less likely during a visit in July and August so waterproof outer wear may not be necessary. A light jacket, scarf or sweater for the evenings is advisable. Pack short-sleeved shirts and shorts for daytime and long-sleeved shirts and pants for later in the day.
Summer (June to July ) Alaska is located so far north that your chances of seeing the northern lights in the summer months are basically zero. If your main goal in visiting Alaska is to see the aurora, be sure to plan your trip several months before or after June 21st (the summer solstice) each year.
Summer in Alaska – May through September – first appears in the Inside Passage region and moves its way north, carried along by lengthening daylight hours. May is generally the driest month across the state, even in the temperate rainforest of the Inside Passage.
That said, Alaska still gets fairly extreme. For example, Barrow—one of the northernmost towns in Alaska—has about two months of darkness in the winter, from about November 18 to January 22. But in the summer, the sun doesn’t completely set for about 82 days, from roughly May 11 until July 31.
Alaska Gets Six Months of 24-Hour Sunlight and Darkness The 24-hour daylight and darkness still happen in Alaska, just less so. Barrow is one of Alaska’s northernmost cities and gets complete darkness for two months out of the year.
Alaska Cruise Packing List: Clothing Short and long sleeved T-shirts. Vest. Lightweight jacket. Waterproof rain jacket or windbreaker. Base layers. Scarf. Comfortable pants. Wool and wicking socks.
Put it all together, and we peg June 15 – July 15 as the best time to visit Alaska . It’s then you ‘ll find the best weather, the most daylight, and the accessibility of summer activities Alaska is known for (like wildlife viewing, hiking, and glacier tours).
In Anchorage, all days between June 8 and July 5 have 24 hours of daylight or civil twilight. Fairbanks has more than 70 days with 24 hours of daylight or civil twilight.
Alaska is a big state and weather can vary greatly by region and season . The table below shows average temperatures and hours of daylight across the state. Alaska does not have a ‘rainy season ‘. Alaska is also very casual.
As the 49th State, U.S. residents don’t need a passport to go to Alaska , but as of October 1, 2020, you will need a REAL ID. REAL ID compliant identification includes a state-issued REAL ID, U.S. Passport , military ID, or other form of compliant ID.
What to Pack for Alaska Travel Lonely Planet Alaska Guidebook. A Warm Hat. Sunglasses. Eye Mask. Lightweight Down Jacket. Rain Trench. Layering Jacket. Socks.