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Weather & Climate in Paxson, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Paxson has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 26°F (-4°C). Winters average -2°F in January while summers reach 55°F in July. 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 18.7 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 3,325 feet.
Temperature
-2°F Jan (-19°C)
55°F Jul (13°C)
| Annual Average | 25.5°F |
| 53% below US avg | |
| January Average | -2°F (-19°C) |
| July Average | 55°F (13°C) |
| Sunny Days | 274 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,325 ft (1,013 m) |
| Area | 319.3 sq mi (827.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 0/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 62.9757°N, 145.7576°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Copper River Census Area County |
| Nearest Airport | Fairbanks International (FAI) 142 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
3,188 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.9.
| Nov 3, 2002 | 2002 Denali Fault, Alaska Earthquake | M7.9 | 104 km | 4 km |
| Oct 23, 2002 | 53 km ENE of Cantwell, Alaska | M6.6 | 123 km | 4 km |
| May 31, 2021 | 73 km N of Chickaloon, Alaska | M6.1 | 140 km | 44 km |
| Oct 22, 1996 | 31 km NNE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.7 | 46 km | 4 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 23 km N of Paxson, Alaska | M5.6 | 36 km | 1 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 23 km NNW of Paxson, Alaska | M5.6 | 35 km | 20 km |
| Apr 8, 2021 | 28 km SE of Cantwell, Alaska | M5.5 | 144 km | 80 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 36 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.4 | 50 km | 1 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 19 km NNE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.4 | 33 km | 1 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 45 km WNW of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.4 | 58 km | 0 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 41 km ENE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.2 | 53 km | 1 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 32 km SW of Dry Creek, Alaska | M5.2 | 61 km | 5 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 3 km ENE of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.1 | 104 km | 5 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 44 km ENE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.1 | 56 km | 5 km |
| Nov 4, 2002 | 78 km ESE of McKinley Park, Alaska | M5.1 | 102 km | 5 km |
| Jan 24, 2003 | 31 km NE of Paxson, Alaska | M5.1 | 45 km | 1 km |
| Nov 8, 2002 | 36 km ENE of Cantwell, Alaska | M5.1 | 136 km | 6 km |
| Jul 5, 2002 | 77 km E of Cantwell, Alaska | M5.1 | 103 km | 0 km |
| May 13, 1993 | 9 km ESE of Eureka Roadhouse, Alaska | M5.1 | 135 km | 50 km |
| Nov 8, 2002 | 17 km ESE of Mentasta Lake, Alaska | M5.1 | 117 km | 13 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Wrangell (140 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Wrangell | Shield | 4,278 m (14,035 ft) | 1912 | 140 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
14 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: GRANITE CREEK (40,844 acres, 1987).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 1987 | GRANITE CREEK | 40,844 | 99 km |
| 2004 | ALPHABET HILLS | 34,657 | 62 km |
| 1994 | HAJDUKOVICH | 21,139 | 98 km |
| 1990 | MILITARY 8 | 20,011 | 91 km |
| 2001 | DULUTH | 8,340 | 91 km |
| 2023 | MOUNT HAYES | 7,046 | 92 km |
| 2013 | EXCELSIOR | 6,230 | 43 km |
| 2008 | BOLIO LAKE RX | 5,098 | 95 km |
| 2016 | YOKNEDA LAKE | 2,866 | 74 km |
| 1995 | BILLY LAKE | 1,583 | 74 km |
| 2013 | TABERT LAKE | 1,525 | 92 km |
| 2010 | DELTA COMPLEX (UPPER GERSTLE) | 1,494 | 85 km |
| 2015 | ROBINSON FORK | 1,354 | 94 km |
| 2010 | TEXAS RANGE RX | 1,010 | 95 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -2°F (-19°C) | 0.4 in | Coldest |
| February | 5°F (-15°C) | 0.5 in | |
| March | 10°F (-13°C) | 0.3 in | |
| April | 23°F (-5°C) | 0.2 in | Driest |
| May | 38°F (3°C) | 0.8 in | |
| June | 49°F (10°C) | 2.4 in | |
| July | 55°F (13°C) | 2.5 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 50°F (10°C) | 1.6 in | |
| September | 39°F (4°C) | 0.9 in | |
| October | 23°F (-5°C) | 0.6 in | |
| November | 6°F (-14°C) | 0.6 in | |
| December | 2°F (-17°C) | 0.5 in |
Paxson has a seasonal temperature swing of 56°F / from -2°F in January to 55°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 11.3 inches, with July being the wettest month (2.5") and April the driest (0.2").