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Weather & Climate in Wainwright, AK
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Wainwright has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 15°F (-10°C). Winters average -11°F in January while summers reach 46°F in July. The area gets 200 sunny days per year. 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 38 feet.
Temperature
-11°F Jan (-24°C)
46°F Jul (8°C)
| Annual Average | 14.8°F |
| 73% below US avg | |
| January Average | -11°F (-24°C) |
| July Average | 46°F (8°C) |
| Sunny Days | 200 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 38 ft (12 m) |
| Area | 10.3 sq mi (26.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 59/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 70.6582°N, 159.9852°W |
| Timezone | America/Anchorage |
| County | Northwest Arctic Borough County |
| Nearest Airport | Fairbanks International (FAI) 512 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
9 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.5.
| Aug 13, 2014 | 20 km SSW of Barrow, Alaska | M3.5 | 119 km | 9 km |
| Mar 28, 2008 | 54 km NNW of Wainwright, Alaska | M3.4 | 52 km | 10 km |
| Aug 8, 2025 | 134 km NNW of Wainwright, Alaska | M3.4 | 133 km | 7 km |
| Feb 14, 2010 | 39 km WNW of Barrow, Alaska | M3.0 | 118 km | 17 km |
| Mar 27, 2008 | 50 km NNW of Wainwright, Alaska | M2.9 | 49 km | 26 km |
| Feb 17, 2025 | 104 km NW of Barrow, Alaska | M2.9 | 147 km | 10 km |
| Oct 26, 2013 | 22 km NNW of Barrow, Alaska | M2.8 | 140 km | 5 km |
| Mar 28, 2008 | 16 km NNE of Wainwright, Alaska | M2.6 | 13 km | 10 km |
| Mar 28, 2008 | 32 km NNW of Wainwright, Alaska | M2.5 | 32 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -11°F (-24°C) | 0.2 in | Driest |
| February | -17°F (-27°C) | 0.2 in | Coldest |
| March | -14°F (-26°C) | 0.3 in | |
| April | 1°F (-17°C) | 0.2 in | |
| May | 23°F (-5°C) | 0.2 in | |
| June | 39°F (4°C) | 0.4 in | |
| July | 46°F (8°C) | 1.0 in | Warmest |
| August | 44°F (6°C) | 1.2 in | Wettest |
| September | 35°F (2°C) | 0.9 in | |
| October | 18°F (-8°C) | 0.6 in | |
| November | 1°F (-17°C) | 0.2 in | |
| December | -11°F (-24°C) | 0.2 in |
Wainwright has a seasonal temperature swing of 63°F / from -17°F in February to 46°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 5.6 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.2") and January the driest (0.2").