At the same time, the Japan ocean current brings warm air from the south. This results in Anchorage's temperatures being comparable to or warmer than many other recognizable U.S. cities. Alaska, at 586,000 square miles, represents one-fifth of the total land mass of the United States and is more than twice the size of Texas. Harsh weather conditions typical of Northern Alaska are often generalized to the entire state. However, the climate and geography in South-central Alaska and Anchorage is as different from Northern Alaska as the climate and geography in Southern California is from North Dakota.
Anchorage offers residents relatively moderate weather with four distinct seasons.
Winter A typical Anchorage winter is comparable to many other northern U.S. cities. The coldest weather is normally in January when the average daily temperature is 20 degrees. Most winter precipitation is snow, although rain falls occasionally. Average annual snowfall in Anchorage is 69 inches with typical accumulation in the city ranging from 12 inches to 24 inches. Most snow is light and dry.