Denali Climate and Average Weather
Climate of Denali: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in Denali month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -40° | -50° | 9,3 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| February | -41° | -50° | 5,3 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| March | -43° | -51° | 3,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| April | -33° | -41° | 5,4 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| May | -25° | -33° | 6,1 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| June | -13° | -21° | 4,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| July | -10° | -17° | 8,0 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| August | -10° | -18° | 12,2 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| September | -20° | -27° | 9,3 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| October | -28° | -37° | 6,3 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| November | -37° | -45° | 5,7 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| December | -43° | -52° | 5,0 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Polar. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in Denali
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How Denali compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Denali.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denali National Park | 7 mi | 16°F | +80°F warmer | 45 in |
| Mount Foraker | 14 mi | -23°F | +41°F warmer | 78 in |
| Anchorage | 133 mi | 37°F | +101°F warmer | 36 in |
| Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport | 135 mi | 38°F | +102°F warmer | 33 in |
| Yukon River | 158 mi | 29°F | +94°F warmer | 19 in |
Best time to visit Denali
Go in March, April and June. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, August and September - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for Denali
Today is slightly cooler than average for August. The forecast high of -15°F is 4.7°F below the -10°F typical for this month.
A 100% chance means rain is expected over most of the area. Plan indoor alternatives.
Visibility is down to 0,3 mi - use low beams and leave extra following distance. Overnight lows near -23°F mean ice is possible on bridges before dawn. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
At 20.308 ft, air here runs roughly 104°F cooler than the same latitude at sea level.
Above 60 degrees latitude, daylight swings enormously - summer nights barely darken and winter days are short.
Northern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in June to August.
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- Insulated outer layer, hat and boots with grip for ice
- A packable rain shell - 7 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- Avoid high-elevation trails without traction devices - frozen surfaces persist in shade all day.
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, August and September - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Denali is a mountain in Alaska. Denali is a mountain known as the highest peak in North America. It sits at 20.308 ft above sea level.
Right now it is -16°F (-27°C) in Denali with overcast. It feels like -24°F. Today runs from -23°F to -15°F. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Sightseeing conditions score 2.6/10 - poor - consider another day.
The best time to visit Denali is March, April and June. The climate is polar. January, August and September tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near -10°F, while December is the coldest with lows near -52°F.
The closest major airport is Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), about 135 mi away. Nearby highlights include Denali National Park, Mount Foraker, Yukon River and Lake Clark National Park.
In plain terms. Today is slightly cooler than average for August. The forecast high of -15°F is 4.7°F below the -10°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 6 PM to 9 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. Visibility is down to 0,3 mi - use low beams and leave extra following distance. Overnight lows near -23°F mean ice is possible on bridges before dawn. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about Denali
| Type | Mountain |
|---|---|
| State | Alaska |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 63°4′9.1″N 151°0′25.2″W (63.0692, -151.007) |
| Elevation | 20.308 ft |
| Known for | the highest peak in North America |
| Local time | 5:29 PM (UTC-08:00) |
| Best months | March, April and June |
| Climate | Polar |
Weather map for Denali
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore Denali
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Denali?
Denali is a mountain in Alaska. Its coordinates are 63.0692, -151.007. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Denali right now?
It is currently -16°F (-27°C) with overcast. Humidity is 95% and wind is 1 mph.
When is the best time to visit Denali?
March, April and June offer the most comfortable conditions in Denali, which has a polar climate. January, August and September are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Denali in?
Denali observes America/Anchorage (UTC-08:00). The local time is 5:29 PM.
What is the nearest airport to Denali?
The closest airports are Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), 135 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Denali?
Popular options include Denali National Park, Mount Foraker, Yukon River, Lake Clark National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (mountains) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 23, 2026 at 5:29 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
