Coldest beach in Alaska

653 coastal locations in Alaska ranked by year-round average sea temperature, coldest first. The state-wide average is 7.4°C. The coldest month is March at 3.9°C. Click any beach for its 30-day chart and 10-year history.

Coldest year-round

Prudhoe Bay #2

-0.3°C annual mean

State-wide average

7.4°C

across 653 Alaska coastal locations

Coldest month

March

3.9°C state-wide average

What the water feels like in March

Water at this temperature is freezing cold, can cause pain and takes your breath away. Unless you are very experienced and are under strict supervision, swimming in this water for more than a few minutes can be very dangerous. Be careful, stay safe, and enjoy the rush of endorphins and exhilaration from a brief cold water swim.

Alaska monthly average 3.9°C to 12.5°C

Warmest month August 12.5°C
Coldest month March 3.9°C
Annual mean 7.4°C
Months above 20°C 0 of 12

Month by month around the Alaska coast

Alaska sea temperatures swing from 3.9°C in March to 12.5°C in August on average across the coast. That's a spread of 9°C. Pick a single month for a focused ranking:

Alaska sea temperature map

Today's pin colours show the latest daily reading at every Alaska beach we track. Drag and zoom; click any pin for that beach's full page.

Zoom in to see individual locations. Click a pin for water temperatures. View list →

°C -2 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 24 27 30 35

Top 50 coldest beaches in Alaska

Sorted by year-round average. Click any beach for its 30-day chart, monthly profile, and 10-year history.

#	Location	Country	Annual mean	Latest
1	Carolyn Island, Golovnin Bay, Alaska Alaska	United States	3.8°C	2.0°C
2	Carolyn Island, Golovnin Bay, Norton Sound, Alaska Alaska	United States	3.8°C	2.0°C
3	St. Michael, Norton Sound Alaska	United States	3.8°C	2.4°C
4	Shaktoolik Alaska	United States	3.7°C	0.8°C
5	North Bay, Stuart Island, Norton Sound, Alaska Alaska	United States	3.7°C	0.1°C
6	Black, Black River, Bering Sea, Alaska Alaska	United States	3.7°C	2.9°C
7	Pikmiktalik River entrance, Norton Sound, Alaska Alaska	United States	3.6°C	-0.8°C
8	Apoon Mouth, Yukon River, Norton Sound, Alaska Alaska	United States	3.6°C	-1.2°C
9	Tooksook Bay, Nelson Island Alaska	United States	3.5°C	-0.1°C
10	Kokechik Bay, Bering Sea, Alaska Alaska	United States	3.5°C	1.5°C
11	Dall Point, Hooper Bay Alaska	United States	3.4°C	1.0°C
12	Cape Romanzof, Bering Sea, Alaska Alaska	United States	3.4°C	1.3°C
13	Eastern Nunivak Island Alaska	United States	3.3°C	-0.9°C
14	Nome Alaska	United States	3.3°C	-1.2°C
15	Mekoryuk, Mekoryuk River Entrance Alaska	United States	3.0°C	-1.2°C
16	Nome, Norton Sound Alaska	United States	2.9°C	-1.2°C
17	Kotzebue Alaska	United States	2.6°C	-1.5°C
18	Point Spencer, Port Clarence, Norton Sound Alaska	United States	2.5°C	-1.4°C
19	St. Matthew Island, Bering Sea, Alaska Alaska	United States	2.5°C	-1.0°C
20	Teller, Port Clarance, Norton Sound, Alaska Alaska	United States	2.4°C	-1.4°C
21	Teller, Port Clarence Alaska	United States	2.4°C	-1.4°C
22	Kiwalik, Kotzebue Sound, Alaska Alaska	United States	2.3°C	-1.4°C
23	Lost River, Seward Peninsula Alaska	United States	2.3°C	-1.5°C
24	Deering, Kotzebue Sound Alaska	United States	2.2°C	-1.5°C
25	Kotzebue, Kotzebue Sound Alaska	United States	2.2°C	-1.5°C

Show 25 more ▸

26	Moghoweyik River entrance, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska Alaska	United States	2.0°C	-1.2°C
27	Cape Krusenstern, Kotzebue Sound Alaska	United States	2.0°C	-1.6°C
28	Goodhope Bay, Kotzebue Sound Alaska	United States	2.0°C	-1.5°C
29	Tin City, Bering Sea Alaska	United States	1.9°C	-1.7°C
30	Akeftapak, St. Lawrence Island Alaska	United States	1.9°C	-1.1°C
31	Powooiliak Point, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska Alaska	United States	1.9°C	-1.0°C
32	Shishmaref Inlet 2 Alaska	United States	1.9°C	-1.4°C
33	Outside Lopp Lagoon Alaska	United States	1.9°C	-1.6°C
34	Red Dog Dock Alaska	United States	1.8°C	-1.5°C
35	Cape Espenberg, Kotzebue Sound Alaska	United States	1.7°C	-1.7°C
36	Savoonga, St. Lawrence Island Alaska	United States	1.7°C	-1.0°C
37	Kivalina Alaska	United States	1.7°C	-1.6°C
38	Fossil River entrance, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska Alaska	United States	1.6°C	-1.2°C
39	Point Hope Alaska	United States	1.6°C	-1.5°C
40	Northeast Cape, St. Lawrence Island Alaska	United States	1.6°C	-1.5°C
41	Maknik Lagoon entrance, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska Alaska	United States	1.5°C	-1.4°C
42	Point Barrow, Alaska Alaska	United States	0.1°C	-1.6°C
43	Point Barrow Alaska	United States	0.1°C	-1.6°C
44	Barrow (offshore) Alaska	United States	0.1°C	-1.6°C
45	Barter Island Alaska	United States	-0.1°C	-1.6°C
46	Barrow Alaska	United States	-0.2°C	-1.6°C
47	Cross Island (Dinkum Sands) Alaska	United States	-0.3°C	-1.5°C
48	Flaxman Island Alaska	United States	-0.3°C	-1.5°C
49	Prudhoe Bay Alaska	United States	-0.3°C	-1.5°C
50	Prudhoe Bay #2 Alaska	United States	-0.3°C	-1.5°C

Warmest 10 in Alaska for contrast

Same data flipped. The warmest year-round spots in the state.

#	Location	Country	Annual mean
1	Ketchikan Alaska	United States	9.7°C
2	Dewey Anchorage, Etolin Island, Alaska Alaska	United States	9.7°C
3	Entrance, Kasaan Bay, Alaska Alaska	United States	9.7°C
4	Hadley, Lyman Anchorage, Alaska Alaska	United States	9.7°C
5	Karta Bay, Kasaan Bay, Alaska Alaska	United States	9.7°C
6	Kasaan, Kasaan Bay, Alaska Alaska	United States	9.7°C
7	Lindeman Cove, Kasaan Bay Alaska	United States	9.7°C
8	Magnetic Point, Union Bay, Earnest Sound Alaska	United States	9.7°C
9	Menefee Anch., Prince of Wales Island, Alaska Alaska	United States	9.7°C
10	Niblack Anchorage, Moira Sound, Alaska Alaska	United States	9.7°C