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Weather & Climate in Seward, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Seward has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (5°C). Winters average 26°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 69.7 inches (wetter 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 10 feet.
Temperature
26°F Jan (-3°C)
56°F Jul (13°C)
| Annual Average | 40.4°F |
| 25% below US avg | |
| January Average | 26°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 56°F (13°C) |
| Sunny Days | 166 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Area | 14.0 sq mi (36.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 196/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 60.1248°N, 149.3916°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Anchorage Municipality County |
| Nearest Airport | Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC) 75 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 21.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 97.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 11.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 34.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively High |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | No Rating |
| Winter Weather | Very High |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low |
| Tsunami | Relatively Low |
| Volcano | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3,791 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.8.
| Dec 4, 2012 | 20 km ENE of Beluga, Alaska | M5.8 | 145 km | 64 km |
| May 5, 1999 | 30 km ESE of Port Graham, Alaska | M5.7 | 148 km | 73 km |
| May 24, 1995 | 26 km SSW of Anchorage, Alaska | M5.5 | 106 km | 39 km |
| Aug 13, 1990 | 13 km NW of Happy Valley, Alaska | M5.5 | 141 km | 72 km |
| Apr 25, 1994 | 19 km NE of Nikiski, Alaska | M5.4 | 118 km | 49 km |
| Feb 27, 2021 | 5 km SSE of Point MacKenzie, Alaska | M5.3 | 136 km | 46 km |
| May 7, 2017 | 14 km N of Ninilchik, Alaska | M5.3 | 127 km | 67 km |
| Feb 27, 2021 | 5 km SSE of Point MacKenzie, Alaska | M5.3 | 136 km | 46 km |
| Jul 22, 1999 | 13 km ESE of Eagle River, Alaska | M5.3 | 130 km | 39 km |
| Apr 18, 1999 | 17 km WNW of Clam Gulch, Alaska | M5.2 | 129 km | 55 km |
| Apr 26, 1991 | 14 km WNW of Anchorage, Alaska | M5.2 | 132 km | 38 km |
| Dec 7, 1991 | 19 km E of Point Possession, Alaska | M5.2 | 105 km | 59 km |
| Jun 16, 2011 | 14 km NE of Nikiski, Alaska | M5.1 | 117 km | 59 km |
| Aug 19, 2009 | 15 km NE of Beluga, Alaska | M5.1 | 146 km | 66 km |
| May 18, 1993 | 16 km WNW of Hope, Alaska | M5.1 | 99 km | 44 km |
| Feb 6, 2002 | 7 km SSW of Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska | M5.1 | 121 km | 38 km |
| Jan 1, 2019 | 7 km SSE of Point MacKenzie, Alaska | M5.0 | 134 km | 44 km |
| Feb 6, 2002 | 10 km SSW of Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska | M5.0 | 118 km | 37 km |
| Jan 13, 2019 | 8 km SW of Point MacKenzie, Alaska | M5.0 | 136 km | 45 km |
| Mar 5, 2004 | 21 km WNW of Kalifornsky, Alaska | M5.0 | 131 km | 62 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 60.0 m (197 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1967 | GREWINGK, AK | Meteorological | 60.0 m | — | 111 km |
| 1964 | PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, AK | Eruption + Earthquake | 51.8 m | 139 | 142 km |
| 2024 | PEDERSEN LAGOON, AK | Meteorological | 17.0 m | — | 34 km |
| 2022 | RESURRECTION BAY, AK | Meteorological | 0.1 m | — | 5 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
14 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: FUNNY RIVER (193,798 acres, 2014).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2014 | FUNNY RIVER | 193,798 | 82 km |
| 2019 | SWAN LAKE | 164,801 | 67 km |
| 2005 | FOX CREEK WFU | 25,577 | 88 km |
| 2009 | SHANTA CREEK | 14,474 | 83 km |
| 2005 | KING COUNTY CREEK | 10,124 | 71 km |
| 1991 | POTHOLE | 8,769 | 48 km |
| 2015 | CARD STREET | 7,366 | 76 km |
| 2004 | GLACIER CREEK | 5,230 | 68 km |
| 2001 | KENAI LAKE | 3,319 | 33 km |
| 1994 | WINDY POINT | 2,689 | 79 km |
| 1987 | SKILAK 2 | 2,365 | 69 km |
| 2007 | SWAN LAKE | 1,986 | 65 km |
| 2017 | EAST FORK | 1,104 | 81 km |
| 2005 | IRISH CHANNEL | 1,067 | 53 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°F (-3°C) | 5.0 in | |
| February | 25°F (-4°C) | 4.4 in | Coldest |
| March | 29°F (-2°C) | 3.2 in | |
| April | 34°F (1°C) | 2.9 in | |
| May | 42°F (5°C) | 3.2 in | |
| June | 48°F (9°C) | 2.2 in | |
| July | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 52°F (11°C) | 4.4 in | |
| September | 46°F (8°C) | 8.0 in | |
| October | 36°F (2°C) | 8.5 in | Wettest |
| November | 29°F (-2°C) | 5.2 in | |
| December | 26°F (-3°C) | 5.9 in |
Seward has a seasonal temperature swing of 31°F / from 25°F in February to 56°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 54.9 inches, with October being the wettest month (8.5") and July the driest (2.1").