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Weather & Climate in Unalakleet, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Unalakleet has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 28°F (-2°C). Winters average -4°F in January while summers reach 59°F in July / a wide seasonal temperature swing of 63°F. The area gets 269 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 21.5 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 11 feet.
Temperature
-4°F Jan (-20°C)
59°F Jul (15°C)
| Annual Average | 27.9°F |
| 48% below US avg | |
| January Average | -4°F (-20°C) |
| July Average | 59°F (15°C) |
| Sunny Days | 269 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 11 ft (3 m) |
| Area | 2.9 sq mi (7.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 281/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 63.8942°N, 160.7968°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Kusilvak Census Area County |
| Nearest Airport | Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC) 391 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 21.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 57.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 100.0 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 5.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | No Rating |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| 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
84 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.5.
| Jul 6, 2006 | 36 km NNE of Koyuk, Alaska | M4.5 | 148 km | 10 km |
| May 17, 1999 | 15 km ENE of Kaltag, Alaska | M4.5 | 127 km | 10 km |
| Dec 15, 1997 | 17 km E of Golovin, Alaska | M4.5 | 117 km | 25 km |
| May 18, 1995 | 15 km N of Elim, Alaska | M4.3 | 120 km | 25 km |
| Jun 16, 2023 | 30 km SSW of White Mountain, Alaska | M4.3 | 149 km | 15 km |
| Sep 13, 1998 | 26 km S of Nulato, Alaska | M4.2 | 147 km | 10 km |
| Jul 31, 1993 | 10 km SSW of Elim, Alaska | M4.0 | 105 km | -3 km |
| Sep 18, 2024 | 19 km WSW of Unalakleet, Alaska | M4.0 | 20 km | 11 km |
| Jul 21, 1998 | northern Alaska | M4.0 | 132 km | 10 km |
| May 25, 1996 | 9 km SE of Golovin, Alaska | M3.9 | 120 km | 10 km |
| Nov 21, 2000 | 26 km ENE of Kaltag, Alaska | M3.9 | 138 km | 10 km |
| Jun 13, 2023 | 29 km WSW of Golovin, Alaska | M3.9 | 147 km | 22 km |
| May 25, 1996 | 8 km WNW of Golovin, Alaska | M3.8 | 138 km | 10 km |
| Feb 6, 2001 | 31 km W of Kaltag, Alaska | M3.8 | 85 km | 22 km |
| Jul 12, 2005 | 12 km SSW of White Mountain, Alaska | M3.8 | 150 km | 15 km |
| Jan 27, 2022 | 53 km S of Elim, Alaska | M3.7 | 81 km | 15 km |
| Aug 8, 2021 | 23 km SSE of Golovin, Alaska | M3.7 | 112 km | 15 km |
| Sep 28, 1992 | 50 km NNE of Stebbins, Alaska | M3.6 | 54 km | 10 km |
| Aug 25, 2025 | 24 km N of Koyuk, Alaska | M3.6 | 141 km | 3 km |
| Jan 22, 1992 | 51 km NE of Unalakleet, Alaska | M3.5 | 50 km | -3 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: St. Michael (82 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| St. Michael | Shield(s) | 715 m (2,346 ft) | Unknown | 82 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: PAPA WILLIE CREEK (127,133 acres, 2005).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2005 | PAPA WILLIE CREEK | 127,133 | 93 km |
| 2015 | OLD WOMAN | 46,474 | 61 km |
| 2015 | SISTERS | 31,132 | 72 km |
| 2017 | TOIK HILL | 16,983 | 64 km |
| 2017 | NONVALNUK | 12,147 | 100 km |
| 2013 | SHAKTOOLIK RIVER | 11,972 | 36 km |
| 2013 | OLD WOMEN RIVER | 11,045 | 51 km |
| 2015 | EGAVIK | 10,147 | 18 km |
| 2004 | ROTO RIVER | 9,395 | 83 km |
| 2015 | GOLSOVIA 3 | 7,772 | 79 km |
| 2013 | RIDGE TOP | 7,420 | 60 km |
| 2004 | BEAR CREEK | 4,380 | 60 km |
| 1990 | 032044 | 3,868 | 92 km |
| 1991 | 132225 | 3,516 | 38 km |
| 2018 | UNALAKLEET RIVER | 3,374 | 60 km |
| 2017 | RIVER NORTH | 3,108 | 51 km |
| 2005 | OLD WOMAN RIVER | 2,679 | 59 km |
| 2015 | HONEYMOON | 2,644 | 73 km |
| 2014 | THE SISTERS | 2,598 | 72 km |
| 1990 | UNK SE 10 | 1,108 | 29 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -4°F (-20°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest |
| February | 4°F (-16°C) | 0.4 in | |
| March | 9°F (-13°C) | 0.4 in | Driest |
| April | 22°F (-5°C) | 0.6 in | |
| May | 39°F (4°C) | 0.7 in | |
| June | 51°F (10°C) | 1.3 in | |
| July | 59°F (15°C) | 2.2 in | Warmest |
| August | 53°F (12°C) | 3.0 in | Wettest |
| September | 44°F (7°C) | 2.2 in | |
| October | 28°F (-2°C) | 1.1 in | |
| November | 12°F (-11°C) | 0.6 in | |
| December | 4°F (-16°C) | 0.8 in |
Unalakleet has a seasonal temperature swing of 63°F / from -4°F in January to 59°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 13.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (3.0") and March the driest (0.4").