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Weather & Climate in Selawik, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Selawik has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 24°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 11.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 64.2 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 5 feet.
Temperature
-2°F Jan (-19°C)
55°F Jul (13°C)
| Annual Average | 24.0°F |
| 56% below US avg | |
| January Average | -2°F (-19°C) |
| July Average | 55°F (13°C) |
| Sunny Days | 274 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 5 ft (2 m) |
| Area | 4.1 sq mi (10.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 204/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 66.5921°N, 160.0022°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Northwest Arctic Borough County |
| Nearest Airport | Fairbanks International (FAI) 366 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 21.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 54.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 99.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 5.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively 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 High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flood | No Rating |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
596 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.2.
| Mar 6, 2019 | 64 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M5.2 | 128 km | 9 km |
| Mar 18, 2020 | 67 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M5.0 | 127 km | 9 km |
| Mar 26, 2019 | northern Alaska | M5.0 | 127 km | 9 km |
| Jul 18, 2014 | 51 km E of Noatak, Alaska | M4.9 | 135 km | 14 km |
| Apr 16, 2019 | 65 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.8 | 127 km | 9 km |
| Feb 10, 2019 | 64 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.8 | 127 km | 8 km |
| Apr 23, 2019 | 67 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.6 | 129 km | 7 km |
| Jul 2, 2019 | 68 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.5 | 130 km | 8 km |
| Aug 17, 2007 | 74 km N of Kiana, Alaska | M4.5 | 116 km | 10 km |
| Mar 22, 2010 | 58 km SSW of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.5 | 107 km | 21 km |
| Mar 12, 2019 | 68 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.5 | 129 km | 8 km |
| Jun 15, 2019 | 66 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.5 | 129 km | 6 km |
| May 9, 2019 | 66 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.4 | 127 km | 7 km |
| Dec 6, 1994 | 82 km N of Kiana, Alaska | M4.4 | 128 km | -3 km |
| Nov 27, 1995 | 50 km E of Noatak, Alaska | M4.4 | 133 km | 31 km |
| Jul 18, 2014 | 60 km E of Noatak, Alaska | M4.4 | 130 km | 11 km |
| Mar 27, 2019 | 64 km S of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.4 | 128 km | 9 km |
| Jun 4, 2009 | 57 km SSW of Shungnak, Alaska | M4.4 | 110 km | 29 km |
| Jan 4, 2006 | 80 km NW of Ambler, Alaska | M4.3 | 126 km | 23 km |
| Apr 10, 1994 | 10 km SSE of Kobuk, Alaska | M4.3 | 145 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Imuruk Lake (196 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Imuruk Lake | Shield(s) | 610 m (2,001 ft) | 300 | 196 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: KERULU CREEK (41,024 acres, 2003).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2003 | KERULU CREEK | 41,024 | 76 km |
| 2011 | FISH RIVER | 32,882 | 83 km |
| 2010 | DERBY CREEK | 18,722 | 92 km |
| 2015 | SALMON RIVER | 15,183 | 69 km |
| 1991 | IAN NW 30 | 10,082 | 95 km |
| 2009 | TAGAGAWIK | 9,180 | 62 km |
| 2010 | RABBIT CREEK 2 | 5,971 | 94 km |
| 2012 | OTTER CREEK | 3,854 | 50 km |
| 2019 | SOUTH FORK BUCKLAND RIVER | 3,249 | 92 km |
| 2003 | TAG RIVER | 3,163 | 82 km |
| 1995 | 532391 | 2,903 | 41 km |
| 2019 | BUCKLAND 3 | 2,838 | 66 km |
| 2009 | TAGAGAWIK RIVER 3 | 1,877 | 67 km |
| 1994 | 432258 | 1,664 | 49 km |
| 2019 | BUCKLAND 1 | 1,536 | 72 km |
| 2002 | SAND | 1,516 | 81 km |
| 1994 | 432250 | 1,280 | 91 km |
| 1995 | OTZ NE 55 | 1,257 | 86 km |
| 2002 | TAG RIVER 4 | 1,233 | 91 km |
| 2009 | CONTINENTAL | 1,209 | 75 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -2°F (-19°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest |
| February | 2°F (-17°C) | 0.5 in | |
| March | 9°F (-13°C) | 0.5 in | |
| April | 20°F (-7°C) | 0.5 in | |
| May | 36°F (2°C) | 0.4 in | Driest |
| June | 50°F (10°C) | 0.6 in | |
| July | 55°F (13°C) | 1.6 in | Warmest |
| August | 53°F (11°C) | 2.2 in | Wettest |
| September | 43°F (6°C) | 1.5 in | |
| October | 25°F (-4°C) | 0.9 in | |
| November | 9°F (-13°C) | 0.6 in | |
| December | 0°F (-18°C) | 0.6 in |
Selawik has a seasonal temperature swing of 57°F / from -2°F in January to 55°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 10.2 inches, with August being the wettest month (2.2") and May the driest (0.4").