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Weather & Climate in Dry Creek, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Dry Creek has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 27°F (-3°C). Winters average -7°F in January while summers reach 60°F in July / a wide seasonal temperature swing of 67°F. The area gets 274 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 15.7 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 57.4 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. 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 3,236 feet.
Temperature
-7°F Jan (-22°C)
60°F Jul (16°C)
| Annual Average | 27.2°F |
| 50% below US avg | |
| January Average | -7°F (-22°C) |
| July Average | 60°F (16°C) |
| Sunny Days | 274 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,236 ft (986 m) |
| Area | 140.2 sq mi (363.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 1/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 63.6266°N, 144.6392°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Southeast Fairbanks Census Area County |
| Nearest Airport | Fairbanks International (FAI) 127 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 21.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 57.0 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 88.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 5.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
2,246 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.9.
| Nov 3, 2002 | 2002 Denali Fault, Alaska Earthquake | M7.9 | 140 km | 4 km |
| Oct 22, 1996 | 31 km NNE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.7 | 47 km | 4 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 23 km N of Paxson, Alaska | M5.6 | 63 km | 1 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 23 km NNW of Paxson, Alaska | M5.6 | 65 km | 20 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 45 km WNW of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.4 | 64 km | 0 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 19 km NNE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.4 | 60 km | 1 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 36 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.4 | 41 km | 1 km |
| Jan 19, 2024 | 4 km SW of Salcha, Alaska | M5.3 | 148 km | 11 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 41 km ENE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.2 | 51 km | 1 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 32 km SW of Dry Creek, Alaska | M5.2 | 31 km | 5 km |
| Jan 24, 2003 | 31 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.1 | 47 km | 1 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 44 km ENE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.1 | 48 km | 5 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 3 km ENE of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.1 | 90 km | 5 km |
| Jul 5, 2002 | 77 km E of Cantwell, Alaska | M5.1 | 139 km | 0 km |
| Nov 8, 2002 | 17 km ESE of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.1 | 104 km | 13 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 78 km ESE of McKinley Park, Alaska | M5.1 | 137 km | 5 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 16 km WNW of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.0 | 77 km | 0 km |
| Nov 5, 2002 | 28 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.0 | 49 km | 11 km |
| Nov 8, 2002 | 21 km N of Nabesna, Alaska | M5.0 | 146 km | 1 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 27 km SW of Dry Creek, Alaska | M4.9 | 27 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Wrangell (183 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Wrangell | Shield | 4,278 m (14,035 ft) | 1912 | 183 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: TAYLOR HIGHWAY COMPLEX (BILLY CREEK) (460,537 acres, 2004).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2004 | TAYLOR HIGHWAY COMPLEX (BILLY CREEK) | 460,537 | 61 km |
| 2002 | SPURS | 72,638 | 90 km |
| 2022 | 2022 OKLAHOMA AND STUART CREEK RX | 63,684 | 89 km |
| 1998 | CARLA LAKE | 62,508 | 86 km |
| 2013 | MISSISSIPPI | 59,188 | 83 km |
| 2014 | 1 OKLAHOMA RANGE | 53,368 | 90 km |
| 2023 | POGO MINE ROAD | 51,225 | 98 km |
| 2003 | SAND CREEK | 49,787 | 79 km |
| 2011 | EAST VOLKMAR | 48,652 | 60 km |
| 1987 | GRANITE CREEK | 40,844 | 52 km |
| 2009 | OKLAHOMA 2 | 38,398 | 93 km |
| 1999 | UPPERWESTFORK | 32,987 | 93 km |
| 2013 | MOON LAKE | 27,819 | 52 km |
| 2019 | OREGON LAKES | 23,924 | 82 km |
| 1990 | MILITARY 7 | 23,797 | 93 km |
| 2018 | 1X OKLAHOMA RANGE | 22,322 | 92 km |
| 2014 | 100 MILE CREEK | 22,109 | 95 km |
| 1994 | HAJDUKOVICH | 21,139 | 32 km |
| 2010 | DELTA COMPLEX (GILLES CREEK) | 20,520 | 96 km |
| 2010 | EAGLE TRAIL | 20,203 | 60 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -7°F (-22°C) | 0.3 in | Coldest |
| February | 5°F (-15°C) | 0.4 in | |
| March | 6°F (-14°C) | 0.3 in | Driest |
| April | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.3 in | |
| May | 36°F (2°C) | 0.8 in | |
| June | 47°F (8°C) | 2.3 in | |
| July | 60°F (16°C) | 2.5 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 47°F (8°C) | 1.7 in | |
| September | 36°F (2°C) | 0.8 in | |
| October | 20°F (-7°C) | 0.4 in | |
| November | 5°F (-15°C) | 0.5 in | |
| December | 1°F (-17°C) | 0.4 in |
Dry Creek has a seasonal temperature swing of 67°F / from -7°F in January to 60°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 10.7 inches, with July being the wettest month (2.5") and March the driest (0.3").