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Weather & Climate in Nuiqsut, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Nuiqsut has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 14°F (-10°C). Winters average -16°F in January while summers reach 49°F in July / a wide seasonal temperature swing of 65°F. The area gets 275 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 8.1 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 35 feet.
Temperature
-16°F Jan (-27°C)
49°F Jul (10°C)
| Annual Average | 14.4°F |
| 73% below US avg | |
| January Average | -16°F (-27°C) |
| July Average | 49°F (10°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Area | 8.6 sq mi (22.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 61/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 70.2135°N, 150.9897°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | North Slope Borough County |
| Nearest Airport | Fairbanks International (FAI) 382 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 21.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 14.8 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 58.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 3.2 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very 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 Moderate |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | No Rating |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1 earthquake (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.2.
| Mar 26, 2003 | 77 km SSW of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska | M3.2 | 106 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Wildfire History
1 wildfire (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: ITKILLIK RIVER (2,184 acres, 2012).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2012 | ITKILLIK RIVER | 2,184 | 17 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -16°F (-27°C) | 0.2 in | |
| February | -17°F (-27°C) | 0.2 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | -16°F (-27°C) | 0.2 in | |
| April | 2°F (-17°C) | 0.2 in | |
| May | 24°F (-5°C) | 0.2 in | |
| June | 42°F (5°C) | 0.7 in | |
| July | 49°F (10°C) | 0.8 in | Warmest |
| August | 45°F (7°C) | 1.5 in | Wettest |
| September | 35°F (2°C) | 0.7 in | |
| October | 16°F (-9°C) | 0.5 in | |
| November | 0°F (-18°C) | 0.4 in | |
| December | -9°F (-23°C) | 0.3 in |
Nuiqsut has a seasonal temperature swing of 66°F / from -17°F in February to 49°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 5.8 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.5") and February the driest (0.2").