Ketchikan, AK weather in August
Expect cool weather with rain on most days in Ketchikan in August, with highs near 65°F and lows near 53°F. Rain falls on about 17 days. Even so, it is one of the warmest months in Ketchikan. Pack rain gear.
- Normal high
- 65°F
- Normal low
- 53°F
- Wet days
- 17
- 11.3 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How August changes from start to finish
| August 1 | August 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 66°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 54°F | 51°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 50% | 61% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 4:54 am / 8:51 pm | 5:50 am / 7:43 pm |
| Daylight | 16.0 h | 13.9 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Alaska Time).
A typical August day
- 6 am56°Fdew point 53°F
- 9 am59°Fdew point 54°F
- Noon62°Fdew point 54°F
- 3 pm63°Fdew point 53°F
- 6 pm61°Fdew point 53°F
- 9 pm57°Fdew point 53°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Ketchikan Intl Airport (3 mi away); average wind 8 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F14 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow17 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in12 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per August, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in August
Normal precipitation is 11.3 in; a dry August brings about 5.7 in and a wet one about 13.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 7 days bring half an inch or more, and about 4 an inch or more.
How August varies from year to year
- Warmest August, 1991-20202004: average high 70°F
- Coolest August2020: average high 61°F
- Wettest August2017: 24.9 in
- Driest August1994: 2.6 in
- Highest reading84°F (August 5, 2009)
- Lowest reading39°F (August 30, 1998)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
August compared with July and September
| July | August | September | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 65°F | 65°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 53°F | 53°F | 48°F |
| Wet days | 16 | 17 | 20 |
| Comfortable days | 13 | 14 | 4 |
| Daylight | 16.8 h | 14.9 h | 12.7 h |
Highs change by 0°F from July and -6°F into September.
How Ketchikan ranks in August
- Normal high372nd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days361st driest of 378
- Comfortable days33rd most of 341
What to pack for Ketchikan in August
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 17 days
Heating and cooling
August has 192 heating degree days and 6 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Ketchikan in August?
The normal high is 65°F and the normal low is 53°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest August reading was 39°F (August 30, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Ketchikan in August?
About 17 days in August have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 11.3 in. The wettest August in 1991-2020 was in 2017 (24.9 in); the driest was in 1994 (2.6 in).
Is August a good time to visit Ketchikan?
August ranks 2nd of 12 months on our comfort score for Ketchikan (68 out of 100). It has about 14 comfortable days. The best months are July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Ketchikan Intl Airport (USW00025325), 2.8 mi WNW of the city center, 76 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Annette Island Airport (USW00025308), 21 mi S of the city center, 109 ft (69 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Ketchikan Intl Airport (703950-25325), 3.2 mi WNW of the city center, 84 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).