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Weather & Climate in Mentasta Lake, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Mentasta Lake has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 25°F (-4°C). Winters average -12°F in January while summers reach 59°F in July / a wide seasonal temperature swing of 71°F. The area gets 200 sunny days per year. 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 5,489 feet.
Temperature
-12°F Jan (-25°C)
59°F Jul (15°C)
| Annual Average | 25.0°F |
| 54% below US avg | |
| January Average | -12°F (-25°C) |
| July Average | 59°F (15°C) |
| Sunny Days | 200 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 5,489 ft (1,673 m) |
| Area | 301.8 sq mi (781.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 0/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 63.0117°N, 143.5615°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Southeast Fairbanks Census Area County |
| Nearest Airport | Fairbanks International (FAI) 180 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
1,490 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 | 98 km | 4 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 23 km NNW of Paxson, Alaska | M5.6 | 112 km | 20 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 23 km N of Paxson, Alaska | M5.6 | 111 km | 1 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 36 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.4 | 84 km | 1 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 45 km WNW of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.4 | 53 km | 0 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 19 km NNE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.4 | 102 km | 1 km |
| Feb 13, 2017 | 20 km NE of Nabesna, Alaska | M5.3 | 69 km | 9 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 41 km ENE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.2 | 65 km | 1 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 32 km SW of Dry Creek, Alaska | M5.2 | 87 km | 5 km |
| Jan 24, 2003 | 31 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.1 | 84 km | 1 km |
| Nov 8, 2002 | 17 km ESE of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.1 | 18 km | 13 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 3 km ENE of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.1 | 12 km | 5 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 44 km ENE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.1 | 64 km | 5 km |
| Nov 8, 2002 | 60 km SW of Alcan Border, Alaska | M5.0 | 124 km | 1 km |
| Nov 5, 2002 | 28 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.0 | 88 km | 11 km |
| Nov 8, 2002 | 21 km N of Nabesna, Alaska | M5.0 | 59 km | 1 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 16 km WNW of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.0 | 25 km | 0 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 27 km SW of Dry Creek, Alaska | M4.9 | 93 km | 5 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 43 km ENE of Paxson, Alaska | M4.9 | 67 km | 2 km |
| Nov 5, 2002 | Central Alaska | M4.9 | 101 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Wrangell (114 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Wrangell | Shield | 4,278 m (14,035 ft) | 1912 | 114 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 | 85 km |
| 2004 | TAYLOR HIGHWAY COMPLEX (PORCUPINE) | 267,726 | 72 km |
| 1990 | TOK RIVER | 95,688 | 48 km |
| 1999 | UPPERWESTFORK | 32,987 | 78 km |
| 2021 | BLACK HILLS | 28,360 | 88 km |
| 2018 | TAIXTSALDA HILL | 28,055 | 68 km |
| 2013 | MOON LAKE | 27,819 | 49 km |
| 2015 | LONG LAKE | 27,670 | 87 km |
| 2010 | EAGLE TRAIL | 20,203 | 46 km |
| 2013 | TETLIN JCT RIDGE | 18,530 | 71 km |
| 2013 | BILLY CREEK | 16,385 | 95 km |
| 2019 | BOUNDARY RIVER | 13,773 | 70 km |
| 1990 | PORCUPINE | 11,458 | 68 km |
| 1986 | PORCUPINE | 11,049 | 61 km |
| 1994 | LICK CREEK | 8,846 | 83 km |
| 2015 | DENNISON FORK | 7,222 | 100 km |
| 1999 | DENNISON-TAYLOR | 6,722 | 86 km |
| 2013 | EXCELSIOR | 6,230 | 88 km |
| 1998 | WEST FORK | 5,877 | 96 km |
| 2003 | TOK RIVER | 5,570 | 39 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -12°F (-25°C) | 0.4 in | Coldest |
| February | 4°F (-16°C) | 0.6 in | |
| March | 8°F (-13°C) | 0.4 in | Driest |
| April | 23°F (-5°C) | 0.4 in | |
| May | 37°F (3°C) | 1.0 in | |
| June | 48°F (9°C) | 2.3 in | |
| July | 59°F (15°C) | 2.7 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 48°F (9°C) | 1.8 in | |
| September | 37°F (3°C) | 1.1 in | |
| October | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.7 in | |
| November | 4°F (-15°C) | 0.7 in | |
| December | -0°F (-18°C) | 0.6 in |
Mentasta Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 72°F / from -12°F in January to 59°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.7 inches, with July being the wettest month (2.7") and March the driest (0.4").