Weather and climate in Fairbanks (Alaska)

The climate of Fairbanks is cold continental, with freezing winters and mild summers.
Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska and is located in the center of the state, at 64 degrees north latitude, on the banks of the Tanana River, a tributary of the Yukon.



The winter is very cold, with fairly frequent snowfalls, although generally not abundant. The temperature exceeds freezing very rarely.
Sometimes fog can form, which can freeze, resulting in the phenomenon known as soft rime.
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature usually drops below -40 °C (-40 °F). Fairbanks is the coldest city of a certain size in the United States. The coldest record is -54.4 °C (-66 °F) and was set in January 1934, while in the post-war period the temperature dropped to -52 °C (-62 °F) at the end of December 1961.
On average, 164 cm (65 inches) of snow falls per year. It usually snows from October to March, but sometimes it can snow in September, April and May as well. In April, it snows little because it is a dry month, but the average temperature is still around freezing.
The summer, from June to August, is very mild or pleasantly warm, but with fairly frequent rains, which gradually increase. At night it can get cold even in this season, although in July the temperature almost never drops below freezing.
There may also be hot periods, in which the temperature reaches or exceeds 28/30 °C.
Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation in the interior of Alaska is not abundant, in fact, it ranges from 250 to 350 mm (10 to 13.5 inches) per year, with a relative maximum in summer due to the higher amount of heat, and therefore energy, available during this period. Here is the average precipitation in Fairbanks.

In inland areas of Alaska, the sun shines more often than on the coast; from April to June in Fairbanks there are as high as 10/11 hours of sunshine per day. However, in late spring and summer, the days are very long because the city is located just south of the Polar Circle. Moreover, since the time zone is shifted two hours compared to the real meridian, on 21 June, the longest day of the year, the sun sets after midnight, at 12.47 in the morning, while it rises two hours later, at 2.57 a.m. The white nights occur roughly from April 25 to August 17.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Fairbanks is the summer, from June to August, being the mildest season. It must be said that this is the rainiest season of the year, and in particular, August is the rainiest month.
In May it can be cold, especially in the first half of the month, but the days are already long and it rains quite rarely.

Fairbanks - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -22.4 °C (-8 °F), with a minimum of -27.4 °C (-17.3 °F) and a maximum of -17.5 °C (0.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -42 °C (-43.5 °F). However, it dropped to -47.2 °C (-53 °F) in January 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it reached 11.1 °C (52 °F) in January 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (2 mph).

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February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -17.6 °C (0 °F), with a minimum of -24 °C (-11.2 °F) and a maximum of -11.3 °C (11.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -38 °C (-36 °F). However, it dropped to -50 °C (-58 °F) in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it reached 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) in February 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 13 mm (0.5 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (3 mph).

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March is generally a freezing cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -11.8 °C (11 °F), with a minimum of -19.7 °C (-3.5 °F) and a maximum of -4 °C (24.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -33 °C (-27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -41.7 °C (-43.1 °F) in March 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it reached 12.8 °C (55 °F) in March 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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April is generally a cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 1.0 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -5.7 °C (21.7 °F) and a maximum of 7.6 °C (45.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19 °C (-2.5 °F). However, it dropped to -32.2 °C (-26 °F) in April 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) in April 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only 9 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.2 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) and a maximum of 16.7 °C (62.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -11.7 °C (10.9 °F) in May 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 31.1 °C (88 °F) in May 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 14 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.1 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) and a maximum of 22.1 °C (71.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) in June 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 33.3 °C (91.9 °F) in June 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 38 mm (1.5 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 21 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are very long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.2 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 11.7 °C (53.1 °F) and a maximum of 22.6 °C (72.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 3.9 °C (39 °F) in July 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in July 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 58 mm (2.3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.9 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) and a maximum of 19.1 °C (66.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to -2.2 °C (28 °F) in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 53 mm (2.1 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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September is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.6 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 2.3 °C (36.1 °F) and a maximum of 13 °C (55.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (23.5 °F). However, it dropped to -16.1 °C (3 °F) in September 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in September 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 34 mm (1.3 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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October is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -3.2 °C (26 °F), with a minimum of -7.6 °C (18.3 °F) and a maximum of 1.2 °C (34.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19 °C (-2 °F). However, it dropped to -33 °C (-27.4 °F) in October 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it reached 22.2 °C (72 °F) in October 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 19 mm (0.7 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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November is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -15.4 °C (4 °F), with a minimum of -20 °C (-4 °F) and a maximum of -10.9 °C (12.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -32 °C (-25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -42.8 °C (-45 °F) in November 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it reached 10 °C (50 °F) in November 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 19 mm (0.7 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (3 mph).

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December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -20.2 °C (-4 °F), with a minimum of -25 °C (-13 °F) and a maximum of -15.4 °C (4.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -38 °C (-36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -47.2 °C (-53 °F) in December 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it reached 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) in December 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 14 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 3 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are very short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 1 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).