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Weather & Climate in Ambler, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Ambler has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 24°F (-5°C). Winters average -7°F in January while summers reach 58°F in July / a wide seasonal temperature swing of 65°F. The area gets 319 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 9.5 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 3.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 21 / among the cleanest air in the country. The city sits at an elevation of 198 feet.
Temperature
-7°F Jan (-22°C)
58°F Jul (14°C)
| Annual Average | 23.8°F |
| 56% below US avg | |
| January Average | -7°F (-22°C) |
| July Average | 58°F (14°C) |
| Sunny Days | 319 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 198 ft (60 m) |
| Area | 10.5 sq mi (27.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 19/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 67.0909°N, 157.8871°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Northwest Arctic Borough County |
| Nearest Airport | Fairbanks International (FAI) 323 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 21.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 54.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 99.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 5.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | No Rating |
| Strong Wind | No Rating |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flood | No Rating |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
606 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.2.
| Mar 6, 2019 | 64 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M5.2 | 92 km | 9 km |
| Mar 18, 2020 | 67 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M5.0 | 94 km | 9 km |
| Mar 26, 2019 | northern Alaska | M5.0 | 92 km | 9 km |
| Apr 16, 2019 | 65 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.8 | 93 km | 9 km |
| Feb 10, 2019 | 64 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.8 | 92 km | 8 km |
| Mar 13, 2025 | 89 km NNE of Ambler, Alaska | M4.8 | 89 km | 3 km |
| Apr 23, 2019 | 67 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.6 | 95 km | 7 km |
| Aug 17, 2007 | 74 km N of Kiana, Alaska | M4.5 | 116 km | 10 km |
| Jun 15, 2019 | 66 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.5 | 93 km | 6 km |
| Apr 18, 1995 | 74 km E of Kobuk, Alaska | M4.5 | 121 km | 8 km |
| Mar 22, 2010 | 58 km SSW of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.5 | 77 km | 21 km |
| Mar 12, 2019 | 68 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.5 | 96 km | 8 km |
| Jul 2, 2019 | 68 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.5 | 96 km | 8 km |
| May 9, 2019 | 66 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.4 | 93 km | 7 km |
| Dec 6, 1994 | 82 km N of Kiana, Alaska | M4.4 | 140 km | -3 km |
| Jun 4, 2009 | 57 km SSW of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.4 | 78 km | 29 km |
| Aug 13, 1993 | 30 km ENE of Kobuk, Alaska | M4.4 | 75 km | 30 km |
| Mar 27, 2019 | 64 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.4 | 91 km | 9 km |
| Apr 10, 1994 | 10 km SSE of Kobuk, Alaska | M4.3 | 57 km | 10 km |
| Jan 4, 2006 | 80 km NW of Ambler, Alaska | M4.3 | 79 km | 23 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: KERULU CREEK (41,024 acres, 2003).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2003 | KERULU CREEK | 41,024 | 84 km |
| 2016 | MAUNELUK RIVER 2 | 31,354 | 91 km |
| 2017 | LOCKWOOD | 21,904 | 56 km |
| 2010 | KILIOVILIK CREEK | 20,911 | 58 km |
| 2015 | SALMON RIVER | 15,183 | 58 km |
| 1994 | DCK SW 50 | 13,180 | 98 km |
| 1988 | DCK S 25 | 10,697 | 95 km |
| 2019 | MAUNELUK RIVER | 9,847 | 73 km |
| 2015 | SELAWIK RIVER | 8,865 | 65 km |
| 2005 | IMELYAK | 7,313 | 91 km |
| 1999 | PAH FLATS | 6,474 | 100 km |
| 2012 | NEKAKTE | 6,402 | 38 km |
| 2010 | RABBIT CREEK 2 | 5,971 | 53 km |
| 2016 | MAUNELUK RIVER | 5,729 | 98 km |
| 1991 | DCK S 32 | 4,465 | 73 km |
| 1984 | DCK SSW 23 | 4,199 | 61 km |
| 2016 | WARREN CREEK | 3,506 | 42 km |
| 1984 | DCK SSW 26 | 3,181 | 62 km |
| 2005 | ZANE PASS | 2,894 | 90 km |
| 2017 | KIHOVILIK CREEK | 2,877 | 60 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -7°F (-22°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest |
| February | -2°F (-19°C) | 0.5 in | |
| March | 4°F (-16°C) | 0.4 in | |
| April | 18°F (-8°C) | 0.4 in | |
| May | 38°F (3°C) | 0.3 in | Driest |
| June | 54°F (12°C) | 0.7 in | |
| July | 58°F (14°C) | 1.6 in | Warmest |
| August | 53°F (11°C) | 2.1 in | Wettest |
| September | 42°F (5°C) | 1.2 in | |
| October | 23°F (-5°C) | 0.7 in | |
| November | 6°F (-15°C) | 0.6 in | |
| December | -0°F (-18°C) | 0.5 in |
Ambler has a seasonal temperature swing of 64°F / from -7°F in January to 58°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 9.4 inches, with August being the wettest month (2.1") and May the driest (0.3").