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Weather & Climate in Gakona, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Gakona has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 28°F (-2°C). Winters average -3°F in January while summers reach 58°F in July / a wide seasonal temperature swing of 61°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 11.8 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). 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 1,878 feet.
Temperature
-3°F Jan (-20°C)
58°F Jul (14°C)
| Annual Average | 28.2°F |
| 48% below US avg | |
| January Average | -3°F (-20°C) |
| July Average | 58°F (14°C) |
| Sunny Days | 274 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,878 ft (572 m) |
| Area | 60.7 sq mi (157.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 3/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 62.3680°N, 145.3052°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Copper River Census Area County |
| Nearest Airport | Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC) 174 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 21.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 40.0 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 93.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 41.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | No Rating |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flood | No Rating |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
2,528 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.7.
| Oct 22, 1996 | 31 km NNE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.7 | 109 km | 4 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 23 km N of Paxson, Alaska | M5.6 | 105 km | 1 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 23 km NNW of Paxson, Alaska | M5.6 | 105 km | 20 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 45 km WNW of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.4 | 84 km | 0 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 19 km NNE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.4 | 99 km | 1 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 36 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.4 | 106 km | 1 km |
| Feb 13, 2017 | 20 km NE of Nabesna, Alaska | M5.3 | 133 km | 9 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 32 km SW of Dry Creek, Alaska | M5.2 | 117 km | 5 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 41 km ENE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.2 | 93 km | 1 km |
| Jan 24, 2003 | 31 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.1 | 100 km | 1 km |
| May 13, 1993 | 9 km ESE of Eureka Roadhouse, Alaska | M5.1 | 102 km | 50 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 44 km ENE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.1 | 97 km | 5 km |
| Aug 25, 2004 | 48 km SSE of Nelchina, Alaska | M5.1 | 104 km | 40 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 3 km ENE of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.1 | 103 km | 5 km |
| Nov 8, 2002 | 17 km ESE of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.1 | 109 km | 13 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 16 km WNW of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.0 | 94 km | 0 km |
| Nov 8, 2002 | 21 km N of Nabesna, Alaska | M5.0 | 123 km | 1 km |
| Nov 5, 2002 | 28 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.0 | 100 km | 11 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 13 km SSE of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M4.9 | 96 km | 3 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 43 km ENE of Paxson, Alaska | M4.9 | 98 km | 2 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Wrangell (78 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Wrangell | Shield | 4,278 m (14,035 ft) | 1912 | 78 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
7 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: ALPHABET HILLS (34,657 acres, 2004).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2004 | ALPHABET HILLS | 34,657 | 86 km |
| 2019 | TOKAINA 2 | 14,741 | 78 km |
| 2013 | EXCELSIOR | 6,230 | 38 km |
| 2016 | YOKNEDA LAKE | 2,866 | 36 km |
| 2019 | CHETASLINA | 1,909 | 72 km |
| 1995 | BILLY LAKE | 1,583 | 35 km |
| 2013 | TABERT LAKE | 1,525 | 79 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -3°F (-20°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest |
| February | 4°F (-16°C) | 0.6 in | |
| March | 15°F (-10°C) | 0.3 in | |
| April | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.2 in | Driest |
| May | 43°F (6°C) | 0.6 in | |
| June | 53°F (12°C) | 1.8 in | |
| July | 58°F (14°C) | 2.1 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 53°F (12°C) | 1.4 in | |
| September | 43°F (6°C) | 0.9 in | |
| October | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.7 in | |
| November | 6°F (-14°C) | 0.8 in | |
| December | -2°F (-19°C) | 0.8 in |
Gakona has a seasonal temperature swing of 61°F / from -3°F in January to 58°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 10.7 inches, with July being the wettest month (2.1") and April the driest (0.2").