If you're looking at a 30 day forecast for Anchorage Alaska right now, you’re probably seeing a lot of "mostly cloudy" icons and temperatures that look like they belong in a freezer. But honestly, looking at a month-long grid in the Far North is kinda like trying to predict exactly where a moose is going to stand in three weeks. You might get the general area right, but the details change fast.
The current situation on the ground in Anchorage is pretty intense. Just last week, we saw a record-shattering snowstorm that dumped nearly 20 inches of fresh powder on the city in just two days. That's the highest two-day total for January ever recorded here.
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Right now, as of January 15, 2026, we’re sitting at 25°F with a light snow falling. If you’re planning to be here over the next month, you’ve gotta be ready for a massive atmospheric shift that’s literally knocking on our door.
The Big Pattern Change Heading Into February
Weather in Alaska doesn't do "subtle." National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters are currently tracking a massive atmospheric river moving up from the Pacific. Basically, we’re about to trade this crisp cold for a weird, messy warm-up.
For the rest of this week, expect temperatures to climb. Tomorrow, Friday the 16th, we’re looking at a high of 35°F. That sounds nice until you realize it’s going to bring a mix of rain and snow. When rain hits roads that have been frozen solid for months, it creates a "silver thaw"—basically a sheet of glass that makes driving a nightmare.
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The longer-range outlook for the remainder of January and the start of February suggests a few key phases:
- The Warm Slush Phase (Mid-January): Expect highs hovering near or above freezing (32°F to 35°F) with high humidity and messy precipitation.
- The Seasonal Reset (Late January): Temperatures will likely trend back toward "normal," which for us means highs in the low 20s and lows in the single digits.
- The February Deep Freeze: Traditionally, February is when the "real" winter hits. Long-range models from the Climate Prediction Center show a 40% chance of below-normal temperatures for most of mainland Alaska as we move into next month.
What the Data Actually Says
It's easy to get lost in the "is it cold?" question. In Anchorage, "cold" is a relative term.
Average highs for this time of year usually sit around 23°F, with lows near 11°F. However, we’ve already seen extremes this month, including a cold snap that sent some areas down toward -35°F just before that record snow hit.
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If you are tracking the 30 day forecast for Anchorage Alaska for travel, you should know that February actually starts to give us something January lacks: light. We gain about five to six minutes of daylight every single day. By the time we hit mid-February, we’ll be enjoying nearly 9 hours of light, which is a massive jump from the 5 or 6 hours we had around the solstice.
Survival Tips for the Next 30 Days
Don't trust the "feels like" temperature on your phone implicitly. It doesn't account for the "Chugach factor"—the way the mountains trap cold air in the bowl of the city.
- Footwear is everything. Forget fashion. You need something with a "Vibram Arctic Grip" or similar tech. The transition from snow to rain this week is going to turn every parking lot into a skating rink.
- The "Atmospheric River" is real. When the NWS talks about moisture coming from the Pacific, they mean business. Expect heavy, wet snow that is much harder to shovel than the light, fluffy stuff we get during cold snaps.
- Watch the wind. We’re expecting gusts up to 18 mph from the south tomorrow. In Anchorage, south winds usually mean warming, but they also bring turbulence if you're flying into Ted Stevens International.
Honestly, the best way to handle an Anchorage winter is to lean into the chaos. If the 30 day forecast for Anchorage Alaska tells you it's going to be -10°F, go look for the Aurora. If it tells you it's 35°F and raining, head to a local brewery and wait for the ice to melt.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
Check the "Area Forecast Discussion" from the NWS Anchorage office every morning. It's written by actual meteorologists who explain why the models are struggling, which is way more useful than a static app icon. If you're driving, download the 511 Alaska app to see real-time road conditions before you head out.