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Weather & Climate in Gustavus, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Gustavus has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 41°F (5°C). Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 55°F in July. The area gets 227 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 58.7 inches (wetter 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 42 feet.
Temperature
28°F Jan (-2°C)
55°F Jul (13°C)
| Annual Average | 40.7°F |
| 25% below US avg | |
| January Average | 28°F (-2°C) |
| July Average | 55°F (13°C) |
| Sunny Days | 227 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 42 ft (13 m) |
| Area | 36.4 sq mi (94.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 17/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 58.4347°N, 135.7282°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Hoonah-Angoon Census Area County |
| Nearest Airport | Juneau International (JNU) 42 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 21.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 14.3 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 98.0 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 10.1 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | No Rating |
| Strong Wind | No Rating |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low |
| Tsunami | Very Low |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
741 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.1.
| Jan 6, 2000 | 35 km WSW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M6.1 | 80 km | 1 km |
| Jul 25, 2014 | 40 km WNW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M6.0 | 73 km | 10 km |
| Jan 9, 2007 | 59 km WSW of Mosquito Lake, Alaska | M5.7 | 136 km | 10 km |
| Jun 24, 1991 | 34 km WNW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M5.6 | 67 km | 0 km |
| Jul 11, 1990 | 27 km WSW of Covenant Life, Alaska | M5.5 | 108 km | 10 km |
| Jun 4, 2014 | 63 km SW of Covenant Life, Alaska | M5.2 | 84 km | 8 km |
| Sep 1, 2019 | 64 km WSW of Covenant Life, Alaska | M5.0 | 103 km | 10 km |
| Jun 7, 2009 | 66 km NNW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M5.0 | 66 km | 5 km |
| Sep 15, 2011 | 111 km ESE of Yakutat, Alaska | M4.8 | 150 km | 4 km |
| Jul 25, 2014 | 41 km WNW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M4.7 | 76 km | 10 km |
| Jul 25, 2014 | 43 km WNW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M4.7 | 78 km | 10 km |
| May 1, 2021 | 93 km W of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M4.7 | 130 km | 9 km |
| Aug 4, 2004 | 26 km WSW of Covenant Life, Alaska | M4.7 | 110 km | 2 km |
| Jan 6, 2000 | 30 km WSW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M4.6 | 75 km | 1 km |
| Aug 14, 2019 | 92 km WSW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M4.6 | 136 km | 20 km |
| Feb 15, 2010 | 103 km NW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M4.6 | 122 km | 3 km |
| Jul 25, 2014 | 44 km W of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M4.6 | 83 km | 2 km |
| Jan 16, 2017 | 30 km W of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M4.5 | 73 km | 13 km |
| Apr 16, 2009 | 95 km NW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M4.5 | 115 km | 15 km |
| Feb 18, 2015 | 43 km WNW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | M4.5 | 77 km | 3 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
10 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 524.6 m (1,721 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1958 | SE. ALASKA, AK | Eruption + Earthquake | 524.6 m | 5 | 55 km |
| 1936 | LITUYA BAY, AK | Meteorological | 149.4 m | — | 82 km |
| 1853 | LITUYA BAY, AK | Meteorological | 120.0 m | — | 109 km |
| 1874 | LITUYA BAY, AK | Meteorological | 24.4 m | — | 109 km |
| 1994 | SKAGWAY, AK | Meteorological | 9.0 m | 1 | 121 km |
| 1917 | TAKU INLET, JUNEAU, AK | Meteorological | 2.4 m | 1 | 96 km |
| 1907 | SKAGWAY, AK | Eruption + Earthquake | 0.7 m | — | 119 km |
| 2014 | PALMA BAY, AK | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 73 km |
| 1927 | SE. ALASKA, AK | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 85 km |
| 1900 | LITUYA BAY, AK | Eruption + Earthquake | — | 5 | 105 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
2 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Edgecumbe (154 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Edgecumbe | Stratovolcano(es) | 970 m (3,182 ft) | -2220 | 154 km |
| Atlin Volcanic Field | Pyroclastic cone(s) | 1,880 m (6,168 ft) | Unknown | 195 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°F (-2°C) | 4.7 in | Coldest |
| February | 29°F (-2°C) | 4.2 in | |
| March | 34°F (1°C) | 3.2 in | |
| April | 41°F (5°C) | 2.4 in | Driest |
| May | 48°F (9°C) | 3.0 in | |
| June | 54°F (12°C) | 2.8 in | |
| July | 55°F (13°C) | 3.7 in | |
| August | 56°F (14°C) | 4.8 in | Warmest |
| September | 51°F (10°C) | 7.5 in | |
| October | 43°F (6°C) | 9.3 in | Wettest |
| November | 34°F (1°C) | 6.5 in | |
| December | 29°F (-2°C) | 6.1 in |
Gustavus has a seasonal temperature swing of 29°F / from 28°F in January to 56°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 58.3 inches, with October being the wettest month (9.3") and April the driest (2.4").