December weather forecast
Alaska, USA

December, the final chapter of the year, sees Alaska in the throes of its profound winter. Anchorage, the state's most populous city, along with other regions, is often blanketed in a thick layer of snow, with the world around echoing the silence and serenity that only winter can bring.

Daylight becomes a treasured commodity as December progresses. The Winter Solstice, typically occurring around December 21st, marks the shortest day of the year. Far north, in places like Barrow, the sun remains below the horizon for much of the month, plunging these regions into polar night. The soft glow of twilight provides brief moments of illumination, a fleeting respite from the dominating darkness.

Temperature contrasts are stark in December. While coastal regions, influenced by the Pacific Ocean, hover around the freezing point, the interior regions like Fairbanks can plunge to harsh lows, often reaching temperatures of -3°F (-19.4°C) or colder. The disparity in temperatures across regions is accentuated during this month.

Snowfall is an intrinsic aspect of December. Most parts of the state receive copious amounts, with certain areas amassing up to 270" (6858mm) annually. This snow, along with the minimal daylight, brings forth a distinctive aesthetic—a world painted in hues of whites and blues, punctuated by the dark silhouettes of evergreens.

Waterways, which began their freezing journey in previous months, are now often fully frozen. The thickened ice sheets on lakes and rivers become playgrounds for winter activities, be it skating, ice fishing, or snowmobiling.

The natural world slows in December. Trees stand dormant, their bare branches etched against the sky. Wildlife activity diminishes, with most creatures either hibernating or having migrated. Yet, some resilient species, such as the Arctic fox or snowy owl, thrive in this environment, their adaptations allowing them to navigate the challenging conditions.

One of December's most iconic phenomena is the Aurora Borealis. The long nights become a canvas for this celestial dance, as green, pink, and purple lights sway and shimmer against the inky backdrop of the Alaskan sky.

All in all, December in Alaska is synonymous with winter's zenith. The land, bathed in a mix of perpetual night and fleeting daylight, snow-covered expanses, and frigid temperatures, offers a mesmerizing, almost magical winter landscape, epitomizing the hushed beauty of the Arctic realm.

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• Anchorage - December »
  In Anchorage, Alaska, in December, snow falls for 11.6 days, with typically accumulated 5.51" (140mm) of snow. December has the shortest days of the year in Anchorage, Alaska, with an average of 5h and 36min of daylight.
• Juneau - December »
  The month with the most snowfall in Juneau is December, when snow falls for 21.8 days and typically aggregates up to 62.8" (1595mm) of snow. The month with the most snowfall in Juneau is December, when snow falls for 21.8 days and typically aggregates up to 62.8" (1595mm) of snow.
• Fairbanks - December »
  In Fairbanks in December, snow falls for 11.4 days, with typically accumulated 2.72" (69mm) of snow. The month with the shortest days in Fairbanks is December, with an average of 4h and 0min of daylight.
• Wasilla - December »
  In Wasilla in December, snow falls for 8.6 days, with typically accumulated 2.64" (67mm) of snow. The month with the shortest days in Wasilla is December, with an average of 5h and 30min of daylight.
• Sitka - December »
  In Sitka in December, during 9.5 snowfall days, 10.04" (255mm) of snow is typically accumulated. In Sitka, Alaska, in December, during 19.2 rainfall days, 9.33" (237mm) of precipitation is typically accumulated.
• Ketchikan - December »
  In Ketchikan, Alaska, in December, during 7.4 snowfall days, 8.03" (204mm) of snow is typically accumulated. The month with the shortest days in Ketchikan is December, with an average of 7h and 12min of daylight.
• Kenai - December »
  The month with the most snowfall in Kenai is December, when snow falls for 12.7 days and typically aggregates up to 8.74" (222mm) of snow. The month with the shortest days in Kenai is December, with an average of 5h and 54min of daylight.
• Kodiak - December »
  In Kodiak during December, the rain falls for 14.8 days and regularly aggregates up to 4.29" (109mm) of precipitation. In Kodiak, during December, the rain falls for 14.8 days and regularly aggregates up to 4.29" (109mm) of precipitation.
• Bethel - December »
  In Bethel during December, the rain falls for 5.6 days and regularly aggregates up to 1.14" (29mm) of precipitation. December has the shortest days of the year in Bethel with an average of 5h and 48min of daylight.
• Palmer - December »
  In Palmer in December, snow falls for 13.9 days, with typically accumulated 6.69" (170mm) of snow. December has the shortest days of the year in Palmer, with an average of 5h and 30min of daylight.
• Homer - December »
  The month with the most rainfall in Homer, Alaska, is December, when the rain falls for 12.7 days and typically aggregates up to 4.65" (118mm) of precipitation. In Homer, Alaska, during December, snow falls for 14.9 days and regularly aggregates up to 11.54" (293mm) of snow.
• Unalaska - December »
  The month with the most rainfall in Unalaska, Alaska, is December, when the rain falls for 15.3 days and typically aggregates up to 4.21" (107mm) of precipitation. In Unalaska, in December, during 12.9 snowfall days, 5.43" (138mm) of snow is typically accumulated.