Katmai National Park & Preserve guide · 1 min read
Weather Between the Pacific and Bering Sea
The Katmai region sits between the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea, which makes it a frequent battleground for competing weather systems.
The Bering Sea is usually the stormier of the two. Visitors should be ready for nearly every kind of weather, and a single day can move from heavy rain to cold wind to warm sun.
Summers are wet and cool, and temperatures can swing widely, from about 30 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain and wind often arrive together during these months. Waterproof outer layers, worn over clothing you can add to or peel off, help you stay comfortable when conditions shift. Strong gusts are common in every season, so plan for wind even in the quieter months.
Rivers are a serious hazard in summer. After heavy rain, most of the park's rivers swell fast and become risky to cross, so check conditions before you set out. Biting insects can also be intense in summer, so bring a headnet to shield your face.
Winter brings a colder, drier spell, with temperatures from minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit up to 50. By late fall the park's ponds and lakes have usually iced over, and the high ground stays snowbound into late spring. The season feels quiet, yet precipitation, whether snow or rain, remains possible throughout.
Katmai's climate is classed as subarctic, with cool summers and moisture arriving in every month. The Pacific shoreline runs cooler, damper and more prone to storms than the interior, so conditions can differ noticeably between the two areas.
