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Due to the Earth’s axial tilt, the Arctic experiences extreme shifts in daylight throughout the year, with nearly-constant daylight during the summer and near-total darkness in winter. This makes the months of September through October prime aurora viewing season.
In most years, Anchorage averages a daily maximum temperature for October that’s between 37 and 44 degrees Fahrenheit (3 to 7 degrees Celsius). The minimum temperature usually falls between 25 and 34 °F (-4 to 1 °C). The days at Anchorage cool most rapidly during October .
No cruises in October . October is not a good month to visit Alaska anyway.
Top Fall Ideas in Anchorage Northern Lights Viewing. By the time September rolls around, true night skies have returned to Anchorage and that means the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, can be viewed again. Glacier Day Cruises. Ride the Rails. Changing Colors. Events Galore. Fish On! Mush! See a Show.
October can bring snow and is a great time for hiking, mountain biking, and exploring.
These whales are the official winner of longest migration, at 5,000-7,000 miles each way! In October , they leave their feeding grounds in Alaska’s Bering and Chukchi seas.
Alaska Sunrise & Sunset Times
Date | Civil Twilight Begin | Sunset |
---|---|---|
October 16 | 8:01 AM | 6:41 PM |
October 17 | 8:03 AM | 6:38 PM |
October 18 | 8:06 AM | 6:35 PM |
October 19 | 8:08 AM | 6:32 PM |
Alaska’s northern lights season is between mid-September and late April, peaking in March, though it’s a season defined more by its long, dark nights than by solar activity. Forecasting the northern lights means predicting solar activity, which is virtually impossible with our current technology.
For example, in Fairbanks, the sunrise on this year’s summer solstice (June 20) is at 2:59 a.m. Sunset is at 12:47 a.m. the next day . For those two hours between sunrise and sunset, it’s basically dusk or dawn because it never actually gets dark . This all – day daylight occurs from May 17 through July 27 in Fairbanks.
While the most popular time to travel to Alaska on a cruise is June through August, it’s also when it tends to be the most expensive. Instead, McDaniel suggested looking at the shoulder months of May and September, when you can save a little money.
The extra price for a balcony is worth it if you’ll put it to good use. Your ship design places balcony rooms on higher decks. This means rooms with balconies have better views, especially on river cruises where lower rooms are close to the water line. If you want the extra space offered by a balcony room.
With this said, you would expect it to be very cold in Alaska . It can be, but not really in the May – September Alaska Cruise Season. Most days are very comfortable, but it’s important to be prepared for both cold and warm weather.
Yes, you can see the northern lights , also known as the aurora borealis , from Anchorage – but not in the summer. The aurora actually occurs all year long, but the sky needs to be clear and dark to see it. Views are best from September to April. Winter is the prime viewing time.
With Anchorage you get more of your stereotypical Alaska but its also a bigger city so if you need to get back onto the grid you can do so with a 30min drive. Juneau is more like a rainforest, it rains a lot and I mean a lot there. It’s a smaller city so you definitely get that small town vibe which is nice.
Winter: September or October through April The winter visitor center is open daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day). In late winter (late February / early March), we begin plowing the Denali Park Road. Ideally, this opens the road for travelers to go as far as Mile 13, Mountain Vista Rest Area.