The+Weather

Alaska.com Be weather wise and clothing conscious on your visit. Expecting to see igloos when you visit Alaska? You'll have to look long and hard to find them. Although Alaska is home to lots of ice and snow, summer warms up quite nicely. Protected by the Chugach Mountains and the Alaska Range and warmed by Pacific Ocean currents, Anchorage has a temperate maritime climate. Summer temperatures can reach into the high 70s. Low humidity also contributes to Anchorage's comfortable climate. Because temperatures can vary greatly, clothing selection is important when you're visiting Alaska. One word of advice: layers. Always dress in layers, whether you're hiking or just walking around town. Even in the summer, bring a jacket to slip on when the sun slides behind the clouds. If you're planning a strenuous activity, consider dressing in something other than cotton. Clothing that wicks moisture away from the body and has the potential to dry quickly can be a real asset in Alaska's wilderness. Temperatures in Interior Alaska usually get higher than in Anchorage or other coastal areas. Fairbanks' average high is 70 degrees in June, 72 degrees in July and 66 degrees in August. Average high temperatures in Anchorage(F) January: 25 degrees February: 27 degrees March: 35 degrees April: 45 degrees May: 55 degrees June: 62 degrees July: 65 degrees August: 64 degrees September: 55 degrees October: 42 degrees November: 28 degrees December: 21 degrees

Pack your sunglasses and your watch, because these daylight extremes may throw you off.

A common notion about Alaska is that the whole state goes dark in the winter and has endless sunlight in the summer. That's not quite the case.

Barrow, at the very top of the state, has a two-month winter period in which the sun doesn't rise. But that's the extreme, and winter's long nights get shorter the farther south you go. South of the Arctic Circle, every place has sunlight at least part of the day.

In the summer, all of Arctic Alaska gets 24-hour sunlight for at least one day at the solstice. Barrow has continuous daylight for 85 days. South of the circle, every town has a night every day, even if it's quite brief.

Long dawns and dusks can make the day appear longer than it actually is. Even as far south as Anchorage, it's possible to read a newspaper outdoors at 2 a.m. -- two hours after sunset -- in the days around the summer solstice.

This summer, solstice occurs at 3:28 a.m. Alaska Daylight Time on June 21. The winter solstice occurs at 2:38 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on Dec. 21.

What's your favorite season and why?  Are there any special traditions associated with different seasons in your country?  Have you ever been caught in bad weather? If so, what did you do?  What crops are produced in which seasons in your country?  Do you think weather patterns are changing? If so, why do you think this is?  Do you have many disasters in you country which are caused by weather?  Do you know any interesting myths or stories about weather?  Do you like snow?  Which do you like better hot weather or cold weather? Do you have snow in your country? Do you have hail? Do you have frozen rain? Do you have typhoons?

What month gets the most rain in your country? What month gets the most rain around here?)

About how many inches of rain does your hometown get per year? What's the average temperature in your country in the summer time? How about in the winter?

Do you get tornadoes where you are from? Do you get typhoons? Do you have frost?

Do you think that in recent years we are losing our four distinct seasons?  What kind of climate do you prefer when choosing a place to go on vacation? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">What is the best season to get married? Can you think of other activities in which one season may be better than another?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">What are the seasons? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> What is the hottest season? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> What is the coldest season? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">In your opinion, which season is the most beautiful? Which season is the most comfortable for you?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">Why do you think spring (or another season) is the most beautiful season? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> Have you ever been stranded in a snowstorm? What did you do? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> Do you think weather affects the way people feel? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> How can extreme weather conditions affect the economy and social life in countries? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Do you think weather patterns are changing? If so, what do you think is causing these changes?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">What are the different kinds of weather? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> What is the weather like in your country for each season? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> What some of the different kinds of weather? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> What is the weather like in your country for each season? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">How does weather affect your attitude? How does weather affect your lifestyle?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">What is the relationship between weather and natural disasters? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> How to you depend on the weather reports on TV? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> How do television stations secure weather reports? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> Why is it important to know future weather conditions in advanced? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> When would knowing tomorrow's weather change you plans? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> Have you ever checked the weather for your city on the Internet? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> What time of year is the best weather where you live? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> Have you ever seen snow? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> Have you ever been in a typhoon? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> Where do you get your weather information? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> What is your favorite winter activity? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> What is the hottest natural temperature (not in a sauna) you have experienced? Where and when was it and what did it feel like?