Alaska's Climate: No Tropical Wet/Dry Zone

Alaska's Climate Classification

Alaska does not have a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen Aw). The vast majority of the state falls into:

• Subarctic (Dfc/Dsc) – Interior and northern regions: long, frigid winters; short, cool summers.
• Tundra (ET) – North Slope and high elevations: no true summer, permafrost.
• Subpolar Oceanic (Cfc) – Southeast panhandle and Aleutians: milder, wetter, but still cool year-round.

Tropical climates require mean monthly temperatures above 18°C (64°F) year-round, which nowhere in Alaska approaches.