North Slope Borough Climate
North Slope Borough, Alaska
Avg Annual Temp
14.5°F
Annual Precip
5.4"
Annual Snowfall
46.3"
Extreme Heat Days
0
days >= 90°F/yr
Monthly Temperature
Precipitation Calendar
Seasonal Overview
National Comparison
Climate Profile
About North Slope Borough Weather
The coldest inhabited region in the nation
The North Slope averages a frigid 14.5°F, making it one of the coldest counties in the entire United States. This is nearly 40 degrees below the national median, representing an extreme polar climate. There is no concept of summer heat here, with zero days reaching 90°F.
Alaska's extreme northern temperature floor
With an average of 14.5°F, this borough is more than 20 degrees colder than the state average of 35.9°F. It consistently ranks as the coldest region in the state, far surpassing the chill of even Nome or Northwest Arctic. The environment is dominated by permafrost and arctic conditions.
Significantly colder and drier than neighbors
The North Slope is nearly 9 degrees colder than the Northwest Arctic Borough and much drier with only 5.4 inches of precipitation. While neighboring regions see more snow, the North Slope’s 46.3 inches remains frozen for much longer. It is a true arctic desert compared to the rest of the state.
Brutal winters and barely-thawing summers
January temperatures average a staggering -12.6°F, and even the July "peak" is only 47.0°F. The region receives 46.3 inches of snow, which often drifts in the constant wind despite low total precipitation. It is the only region in this group where the winter average is below zero.
Survival requires specialized arctic infrastructure
Heating systems must be rated for sustained temperatures below -10°F to ensure safety. High-quality expedition-grade gear is the only way to navigate the outdoors for much of the year. Minimal annual precipitation means dust control is often more of a summer concern than heavy rain.
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Data source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020.
Climate normals are 30-year averages of weather variables computed from 1991 to 2020. Station data is aggregated to county level using spatial averaging. Data is informational only — not a substitute for official National Weather Service forecasts or emergency weather warnings.