Category Archives: Weather

Questions about Alaska weather.

What are all these salmon I keep hearing about?

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Q: I have been looking at salmon fishing in Alaska, and I keep hearing a lot of names for all the different types that are common.  Could you explain them?

A: Sure thing.  This is a fairly common confusion among residents and visitors alike.  Heres a basic break-down of the salmon, their names, and their basic ‘value’ as food or sport fish.

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When can we visit Alaska and avoid mosquitoes, but not get too cold?

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Q: What is the best time of year to visit Alaska? We’d like to enjoy the outdoors when it’s not too cold, but we’d also like to avoid the mosquitoes.

A: Thats a tough one.  As soon as the temperature gets above freezing for any amount of time, and the lakes and wetlands start to thaw, the bugs come out.  Right now, late May/ early June, is the best time in my opinion.  The mosquitoes are large (about the size of nickels), but they’re also slow and there are not as many.

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How long is the longest day of the year? When is it?

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Q: When is the longest day of the year? How long is it?

A: The longest day of the year is Summer Solstice, and usually falls on the 20th or 21st of June.  The length of day depends on whether you’re in Anchorage or Fairbanks.  In Anchorage the day is about 19 hours and 22 minutes long.  In Fairbanks the day lasts a whopping 21 hours.  You should know that for the hours that the sun is not up on those days that it is light enough outside to still carry on most activities, and that you don’t even need your headlights on!

I hear Mosquitoes are awful up there. Do they carry diseases?

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Q:  I have heard stories about Mosquitoes in Alaska, and how they come at you in swarms.  With so many bugs, are there any diseases to worry about?

A:  They only swarm in very remote tundras and forested areas.  Around Denali they’re not terrible, but they are noticeable. In early summer they are large, slow and in plenty.  By Autumn they become smaller and faster, but there are less of them.  The chance of mosquetoes in Alaska carrying diseases such as West Nile, Malaria, Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever or any of the other tropical diseases is very slim (according to wildlife veterinarians Kimberlee Beckmen and Jim Kruse,  insect experts at the University of Alaska Museum). Continue reading →

How is Alaska’s weather in March?

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Q:  We are planning a trip to Alaska in March.  Could you tell me about what the weather is like?

A:  Most of Alaska is still in Winter in March.  The road to Denali is still closed, and the town is shut-down.  Expect colder weather in the 20′s and 30′s Fahrenheit.  Id recommended packing with layers of clothing, jeans, teeshirts, sweaters, coats, thick socks, and some boots.   Continue reading →