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Weather & Climate in Petersburg, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Petersburg has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 56°F in July. The area gets 166 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual precipitation totals 110.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 85.6 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. 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 700 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-1°C)
56°F Jul (14°C)
| Annual Average | 43.0°F |
| 20% below US avg | |
| January Average | 31°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 56°F (14°C) |
| Sunny Days | 166 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 700 ft (213 m) |
| Area | 44.2 sq mi (114.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 76/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 56.7569°N, 132.8749°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Wrangell City and Borough County |
| Nearest Airport | Ketchikan International (KTN) 107 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 21.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 0.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 67.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 31.6 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | No Rating |
| Strong Wind | No Rating |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flood | No Rating |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
39 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.5.
| Jul 9, 2001 | 27 km W of Port Alexander, Alaska | M4.5 | 148 km | 25 km |
| Apr 29, 2013 | 60 km ENE of Thoms Place, Alaska | M4.3 | 108 km | 13 km |
| Sep 7, 2004 | 71 km ENE of Wrangell, Alaska | M4.2 | 92 km | 5 km |
| May 13, 2023 | 20 km WSW of Port Alexander, Alaska | M3.8 | 143 km | 7 km |
| Jan 6, 2012 | 74 km NE of Petersburg, Alaska | M3.5 | 74 km | 1 km |
| Nov 9, 2009 | 57 km ENE of Hobart Bay, Alaska | M3.5 | 107 km | 1 km |
| Sep 20, 2010 | 44 km WSW of Kake, Alaska | M3.4 | 108 km | 17 km |
| Aug 11, 2005 | 66 km ENE of Petersburg, Alaska | M3.4 | 65 km | 16 km |
| Mar 2, 2014 | 91 km ENE of Hobart Bay, Alaska | M3.3 | 135 km | 1 km |
| May 18, 2021 | 59 km NE of Hobart Bay, Alaska | M3.2 | 124 km | 5 km |
| Feb 21, 1992 | 17 km SE of Port Alexander, Alaska | M3.2 | 119 km | 10 km |
| Jan 26, 2017 | 62 km ENE of Hobart Bay, Alaska | M3.1 | 110 km | 1 km |
| Mar 22, 2020 | 40 km NE of Hobart Bay, Alaska | M3.1 | 112 km | 3 km |
| Sep 15, 2019 | 47 km ESE of Hobart Bay, Alaska | M3.0 | 72 km | 3 km |
| Feb 23, 2020 | 64 km NE of Hobart Bay, Alaska | M3.0 | 126 km | 5 km |
| Jan 8, 2009 | 32 km N of Port Alexander, Alaska | M2.9 | 110 km | 19 km |
| Jun 10, 2016 | 60 km ENE of Hobart Bay, Alaska | M2.9 | 108 km | 5 km |
| May 18, 2021 | 61 km NE of Hobart Bay, Alaska | M2.9 | 122 km | 5 km |
| Apr 27, 2011 | 36 km NW of Port Alexander, Alaska | M2.9 | 133 km | 1 km |
| Mar 27, 2024 | 44 km NW of Port Alexander, Alaska | M2.9 | 136 km | 6 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 470.0 m (1,542 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2025 | TRACY ARM, AK | Meteorological | 470.0 m | — | 121 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Hoodoo Mountain (97 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Hoodoo Mountain | Subglacial | 1,850 m (6,070 ft) | -7050 | 97 km |
| Iskut-Unuk River Cones | Pyroclastic cone(s) | 1,880 m (6,168 ft) | 1800 | 143 km |
| Spectrum Range | Shield | 2,430 m (7,972 ft) | Unknown | 152 km |
| Tlevak Strait-Suemez Is. | Volcanic field | 50 m (164 ft) | Unknown | 170 km |
| Edziza | Stratovolcano | 2,786 m (9,140 ft) | 950 | 172 km |
| Edgecumbe | Stratovolcano(es) | 970 m (3,182 ft) | -2220 | 178 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F (-1°C) | 11.8 in | |
| February | 31°F (-0°C) | 9.3 in | |
| March | 34°F (1°C) | 8.5 in | |
| April | 40°F (4°C) | 7.2 in | |
| May | 47°F (8°C) | 6.8 in | |
| June | 53°F (12°C) | 5.6 in | Driest |
| July | 56°F (14°C) | 5.8 in | Warmest |
| August | 56°F (13°C) | 8.1 in | |
| September | 50°F (10°C) | 12.6 in | |
| October | 42°F (6°C) | 18.2 in | Wettest |
| November | 34°F (1°C) | 12.9 in | |
| December | 30°F (-1°C) | 12.3 in | Coldest |
Petersburg has a seasonal temperature swing of 26°F / from 30°F in December to 56°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 119.1 inches, with October being the wettest month (18.2") and June the driest (5.6").