The climate on the north slope of the Brooks Range is best described as the Arctic. The temperatures will vary from 60 below to 75 above between summer and winter. There is permafrost a few feet down in August. It can snow any time of year. The north side of the Brooks is considered a desert and generally does not get much rain compared to other parts of Alaska. Rain levels are relatively low but the ground stays saturated from poor drainage due to the permafrost. The ice pack off of the coast has a big influence on temperatures and fog. Fog will be common along the foothills to the coastline. An onshore breeze will blow the fog upslope against the range. Often one side of the range or the other is influenced by a low front resulting in poor weather. Strong high pressure will build over the region and result in periods of beautiful weather. But like any mountain environment, the weather is always changing and is hard to predict. Temperatures in August will range from a light frost to 75 degrees and vary with sun, rain, and snow in the same day. Commonly there are squall lines that continually come across the range.

Be mentally prepared for non-hunt days and non-fly days due to poor weather. This is just part of hunting in remote Alaska. The weather is unpredictable and there are no accurate weather forecasts. Weather is most reliable as a visual assessment called in by you and the guide in the field.