Updated October 2026
Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve Weather by Month
Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 71°F and a low of 43°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 6°F and an average low of -9°F. August is the wettest month, with about 2.7 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in November, at about 14 inches.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 13 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
71°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
-9°F avg low
Wettest month
Aug
2.7 in avg
Snowiest month
Nov
13.5 in avg
Longest days
Jun
19.0 h of daylight
Average weather at Wrangell - St Elias by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°F | -9°F | 0.9 in | 13.2 in | 5.9 h |
| February | 21°F | -1°F | 1.1 in | 7.9 in | 8.6 h |
| March | 33°F | 4°F | 0.4 in | 5.4 in | 11.3 h |
| April | 48°F | 22°F | 0.3 in | 2.5 in | 14.4 h |
| May | 62°F | 31°F | 0.9 in | 0.6 in | 17.2 h |
| June | 70°F | 39°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in | 19.0 h |
| July | 71°F | 43°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in | 18.2 h |
| August | 67°F | 40°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in | 15.6 h |
| September | 56°F | 33°F | 2.6 in | 2.7 in | 12.5 h |
| October | 39°F | 20°F | 2.2 in | 9.4 in | 9.6 h |
| November | 17°F | 2°F | 1.5 in | 13.5 in | 6.7 h |
| December | 9°F | -4°F | 1.1 in | 11.3 in | 5.0 h |
| Year total | 17.8 in | 66.5 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00505757, 13 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Wrangell - St Elias is at that time of year.
Wrangell - St Elias weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 6°F in January, between 9°F in December and 21°F in February, with average lows between -9°F and -1°F. The average high stays at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 3.1 inches of precipitation, about 17% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 32 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 5.0 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 33°F in March to 62°F in May, with average lows between 4°F and 31°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 1.6 inches of precipitation, about 9% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 8.5 inches for the season, most of it in March. Daylight lengthens from about 11.3 hours in March to 17.2 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 71°F in July, between 70°F in June and 67°F in August, with average lows between 39°F and 43°F. Together the three months average 6.8 inches of precipitation, about 38% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 19.0 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 56°F in September to 17°F in November, with average lows between 2°F and 33°F. The average low is at or below freezing in October and November. Together the three months average 6.3 inches of precipitation, about 35% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 26 inches for the season. Daylight shortens from about 12.5 hours in September to 6.7 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Varies widely depending on location in park and time of year. Visit https://www.nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/weather.htm for detailed information.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Wrangell - St Elias
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 61.42°N, 142.60°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 3.9× the visitors of the park's average month. January is the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Wrangell - St Elias.
Where to stay near Wrangell - St Elias
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, with an average high of 71°F and an average low of 43°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 13 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, with an average low of -9°F and an average high of 6°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
August is the wettest month, with about 2.7 inches of precipitation. April is the driest, at about 0.3 inches. The station records about 17.8 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 13 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 67 inches of snow a year. November is the snowiest month, at about 14 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 9 of the 12 months.
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00505757), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1982–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.