The southeast region of Alaska, also known as the Inside Passage, is 500 miles of rain forests, glaciers, rock and salmon streams. This tourist area boasts the highest annual precipitation and the highest average temperatures in the state.
The bordering Gulf of Alaska, along with the coastal mountain ranges of St. Elias and the Coast Mountains, has a significant impact on Southeast Alaska’s climate. These geographical features, along with plentiful moisture, produce annual precipitation amounts of up to 200 inches. The oceans are slower to heat and cool, which results in less extreme seasonal variation.
According to the Western Regional Climate Center, Southeast Alaska has precipitation throughout the year with no prolonged dry periods. The milder seasonal conditions bring average summer temperatures to 60 degrees Fahrenheit in July, while average temperatures in the winter are in the 20- to 30-degree range.
The warm summers and mild winters aid heavy commercial fishing, kayaking and hiking. During the winter, the coastal areas remain free of ice, allowing vessels to call on Southeast Alaskan ports. The summer months have an average 18 hours of sunlight, while average daylight in the winter months is six to seven hours.
The winter season of 1975 through 1976 produced a record amount of snowfall in Alaska. The southeastern town of Yakutat received more than 33 feet of snow.
