Monthly weather forecast and climate
Fairbanks, AK

Fairbanks experiences a continental subarctic type of climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc) with mild summers and icy winters. Fairbanks, the largest city in Interior Alaska, lies in the Tanana Valley, at the confluence of the Chena and Tanana rivers in central Alaska. The high latitude location of the city that is near the Arctic Circle mainly affects its climate.

Fairbanks lies at an average elevation of 136 meters above sea level with mountains on all sides. The topography consists of valleys, mountains, marshlands, bogs, wetlands, rivers, and streams. The White Mountains and Yukon River are at a distance from the northern edge of the city with a chain of hills acting as a separator. The Alaskan Range lies at the south of the Tanana River. Hills and valleys form the east and west boundaries of the city.

Fairbanks has four seasons that consist of a short summer and dominant winter season. Summers are mild, with an average high temperature of 73°F (22.8°C) at the peak of July. Winters are severely cold, with the average low temperature at -17°F (-27.2°C) during the coldest month of January. Temperatures drop to -40°F (-40°C) for at least eight days during the year, while 80.1°F (26.7°C) registers for approximately 13 days.
Summers have the midnight sun, while winters display the northern lights. Spring and autumn are short and mild, with a moderate amount of snowfall.

Fairbanks receives scanty rainfall of 11" (279.4mm) annually with the majority between June to September. The average annual snowfall is 65" (1651mm) - snow lasts from October to May, but the snowpack is at a peak in January. Frost is regular, while wide temperature inversions cause ice fog during the winter. Fairbanks registers 2105 hours of annual sunshine with cloudy skies for the majority of the year.

The record high temperature for Fairbanks is 99°F (37.2°C), set on July 28, 1919, while the lowest temperature on record is -65.9°F (-54.4°C), set on January 14, 1934.

The best time to visit Fairbanks is from June to August during the mild summer season, while May and September offer comfortable weather. The days go up to 80.1°F (26.7°C) occasionally, while the nights are cold. Snow cover recedes by May, and the landscape is green everywhere. Summer is wet, but the rainfall is rarely heavy. The warm season is the only time when the sunshine is at its best.

The worst time to visit Fairbanks is during the winter from December to February when the cold is at its peak. The temperatures remain below freezing even during the day and may reach extremes. Snowfall and ice fog keep the sunlight away, which is mild at best during the winter. Winter sees many visitors in Fairbanks from all over the country to see the Aurora or Northern Lights and for winter sports.

Fairbanks is prone to wildfires during the summer, and ice fog, snowstorms, and avalanches during the winter. Dense wildfire smoke affects the weather amid health concerns. Snowfall is massive at times, which causes power outages due to trees falling on power lines, and stalls the city. The record for maximum snowfall in a year to date is in 1990-91 with 148" (3759.2mm). Blizzards limit vision to a few feet, which makes it impossible to drive on the snowy roads.

January usually has the coldest temperatures of the year in Fairbanks with the average temperatures in the astonishingly low range of -17°F (-27.2°C) to 1°F (-17.2°C). Weather in January »

February is severely cold in Fairbanks as the winter shows no signs of fading. The skies are gloomy, with mild sunlight that lasts for 4 hours a day. Weather in February »

March is the driest month of the year in Fairbanks with 0.3" (7.6mm) of rainfall and snowfall to the tune of 5" (127mm) amid partly clear skies. Weather in March »

April sees Fairbanks above the freezing mark for the first time during the year as the average temperatures scale up in the 21°F (-6.1°C) to 45°F (7.2°C) zone. Weather in April »

May welcomes the lovely spring season to Fairbanks as the landscape goes green in the city. The skies are bright as the temperatures ascend in the mild 37.9°F (3.3°C) to warm 61°F (16.1°C) range. Weather in May »

June is the sunniest month of the year in Fairbanks, Alaska, with 334 hours of magnificent sunshine during the mammoth 21 hours of daylight. Weather in June »

July is usually the hottest and wettest month of the year in Fairbanks as the average temperatures move up in the 52°F (11.1°C) to 73°F (22.8°C) zone. Weather in July »

August has lovely summer days in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the average temperatures in the mild 46°F (7.8°C) to warm 66°F (18.9°C) zone. Weather in August »

September sees the first snowfall in Fairbanks with the arrival of the autumn season. The conditions are cold with the average temperatures in the range of 35.1°F (1.7°C) to 55°F (12.8°C). Weather in September »

October accumulates the first inch of snow in Fairbanks with the advance of the fall season. The snowfall is heavy and occurs for approximately 11 days. Weather in October »

November brings cold weather to Fairbanks with the end of the fall season. The average temperatures are in the cold -6°F (-21.1°C) to 10.9°F (-11.7°C). Weather in November »

December brings the long and cold winter season to Fairbanks, Alaska, with the average temperatures in the -13°F (-25°C) to 5°F (-15°C) range. Weather in December »