Talkeetna, 62°19'N 150°06'W, 350.0 ft a.s.l.
Talkeetna is located 80 airline miles north of Anchorage, and can be reached by both road and air. It lies in the upper end of a broad valley, on the southeast shore of the junction point of the Talkeetna and Susitna Rivers. The junction point of the Chulitna and Susitna Rivers occurs about 3 miles to the northwest of the station. The valley at this point has a gradual slope from station elevation to the 1,000-foot level at a distance of 15 miles to the west-northwest, and 5 to 7 miles from the northeast through the southwest. Elevation changes in these directions are more rapid beyond this point reaching heights of 4,000 to 6,000 feet at a distance of 25 to 30 miles. Except for isolated peaks (none close) of 2,500 to 4,000 feet there are no significant changes in elevation in the remaining directions. The area immediately surrounding the station is a composite of swampland and slightly higher ground which supports growth of birch and spruce trees.
The climate of Talkeetna varies in character between continental and modified maritime. Because of topography the annual precipitation is about half that measured on the Gulf of Alaska coast, and over twice that of the continental regime found in the interior. Temperature is definitely continental in nature. Like most areas of Alaska, Talkeetna experiences a January thaw with several days of above freezing temperatures. Although ground conditions become icy, the thaw conditions lower the total snow depth enough to prevent the accumulation of excessive amounts during the winter snow season. The warmest period in summer is from June through mid-July, with cooler weather after mid-July because of the cloudiness and precipitation maximums from late July through September. Surface winds predominate north or south, depending on the season, because of the orientation of the valley. Velocity averages are relatively light.
Talkeetna is not a part of the agricultural area of Alaska. Normal moisture distribution results in a maximum rainfall at a time that crops should be maturing, and the freeze-free period, which on the average is from mid-June to mid-August, results in too short a growing period.