Willow, AK

Full City Profile · Alaska · Anchorage Municipality County

3.7 /5.0
B+ Good
1,769 Population 3/sq mi density
$74,669 Median Income $41,053 per capita
$285,100 Home Value $258,517 Zillow
$1,282 Median Rent 21.3% income on rent
33°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.7 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.6 / 5.0
$74,669 median income, 5.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.5 / 5.0
$285,100 home value, $1,282/mo rent
B
Education
3.1 / 5.0
25.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Willow has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 33°F (1°C). Winters average 6°F in January while summers reach 60°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 18.8 inches. The area receives 62.0 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

6°F Jan (-15°C) 60°F Jul (16°C)
Annual Average33.4°F
38% below US avg
January Average6°F (-15°C)
July Average60°F (16°C)

Geography

Elevation3,048 ft (929 m)
Area699.5 sq mi (1,811.7 km²)
Population Density3/sq mi
Coordinates61.8870°N, 149.6202°W
TimezoneAmerica/Anchorage
CountyAnchorage Municipality County
Nearest AirportTed Stevens Anchorage International (ANC)
51 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 18.8"
51% below US avg
Snowfall 62.0"
Wettest Month (Aug) 3.44"
Driest Month (Apr) 0.38"

Air Quality

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.36 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)4.5 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score97.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability11.4 / 100
Community Resilience34.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Very Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind No Rating
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively High
Coastal Flood Very Low
Tsunami Relatively Low
Volcano Relatively Low
Avalanche Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

8,398 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M6.3. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 25, 2025.

May 1, 1991 Central Alaska M6.3 114 km
May 31, 2021 73 km N of Chickaloon, Alaska M6.1 95 km
Dec 4, 2012 20 km ENE of Beluga, Alaska M5.8 94 km
Jun 24, 2015 46 km SW of Skwentna, Alaska M5.8 126 km
May 24, 1995 26 km SSW of Anchorage, Alaska M5.5 101 km
Mar 8, 2000 33 km N of Skwentna, Alaska M5.4 102 km
Jun 22, 2009 36 km E of Skwentna, Alaska M5.4 57 km
Sep 25, 2010 54 km NE of Chase, Alaska M5.4 108 km
Dec 2, 1992 29 km WNW of Susitna, Alaska M5.4 76 km
Apr 25, 1994 19 km NE of Nikiski, Alaska M5.4 141 km
Jul 4, 1996 33 km ESE of Skwentna, Alaska M5.4 63 km
Dec 28, 1990 49 km S of Cantwell, Alaska M5.3 126 km
May 15, 2016 64 km SE of Denali National Park, Alaska M5.3 149 km
Jul 28, 2011 8 km NE of Skwentna, Alaska M5.3 90 km
May 6, 1997 8 km NW of Knik-Fairview, Alaska M5.3 36 km
Feb 27, 2021 5 km SSE of Point MacKenzie, Alaska M5.3 65 km
Feb 27, 2021 5 km SSE of Point MacKenzie, Alaska M5.3 65 km
Jul 22, 1999 13 km ESE of Eagle River, Alaska M5.3 68 km
Apr 26, 1991 14 km WNW of Anchorage, Alaska M5.2 76 km
Feb 6, 2022 72 km S of Cantwell, Alaska M5.2 107 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

1 tornado (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF0.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 19, 2024 EF0 84 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Spurr (154 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Spurr Stratovolcano 3,374 m (11,070 ft) 1992 154 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Wildfire History

6 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: SU RIVER (7,050 ac, 2007).

Year Name Acres Distance
2007 SU RIVER 7,050 32 km
2015 SOCKEYE 6,538 28 km
2019 MCKINLEY 3,436 25 km
2010 EKLUTNA 1,941 71 km
2019 DESHKA LANDING 1,285 37 km
2002 THURSDAY CREEK 1,046 55 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 6°F (-15°C) 0.7 in Coldest
February 13°F (-10°C) 0.9 in
March 21°F (-6°C) 0.6 in
April 36°F (2°C) 0.4 in Driest
May 48°F (9°C) 1.1 in
June 57°F (14°C) 1.8 in
July 60°F (16°C) 2.6 in Warmest
August 57°F (14°C) 3.4 in Wettest
September 47°F (9°C) 2.9 in
October 32°F (0°C) 1.8 in
November 16°F (-9°C) 1.2 in
December 9°F (-13°C) 1.5 in

Willow has a seasonal temperature swing of 54°F / from 6°F in January to 60°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 18.8 inches, with August being the wettest month (3.4") and April the driest (0.4").

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