Fairbanks, AK Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Fairbanks
Seasons are the whole story in Fairbanks. The gap between an average July and an average January is 36°C - warm summers and cold, often snowy winters - which in practice means 71°F (22°C) afternoons at one end of the calendar and 5°F (-15°C) at the other.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 71°F (22°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 5°F (-15°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 90°F (32°C) high · -52°F (-47°C) low
- Wettest month: August (15 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (14.5 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid continental
- Annual swing: 36°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 8°C
- Snow: about 29 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 7
- Average humidity: 70%
Temperatures through the year
January sits at the other end of the year: 5°F (-15°C) by day, -7°F (-22°C) at night. At its warmest, in July, Fairbanks runs to 71°F (22°C) in the afternoon and back to 55°F (13°C) by dawn. August is the wettest month at 3.6 inches (91 mm) over 15 days; January is the driest.
Rain, sun and snow
Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 7 months, October through April. June is the brightest month at 14.5 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 7.5 - duller than all but 7% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. 4 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running January through April. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 90°F (32°C) and bottoms at -52°F (-47°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Fairbanks compares
- Fairbanks averages 31°F (0°C) across the year - cooler than almost every other city we track.
- Its warmest and coolest months are 36°C apart - a wider seasonal swing than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5° | -7° | 5 | 0.6 in | 2.5 h/day | 75% |
| February | 13° | -2° | 6 | 0.8 in | 4.9 h/day | 74% |
| March | 26° | 7° | 5 | 0.6 in | 8.0 h/day | 70% |
| April | 43° | 23° | 5 | 0.7 in | 11.5 h/day | 63% |
| May | 60° | 40° | 8 | 1.2 in | 13.4 h/day | 58% |
| June | 70° | 52° | 10 | 2.1 in | 14.5 h/day | 58% |
| July | 71° | 55° | 12 | 3.1 in | 11.8 h/day | 67% |
| August | 64° | 50° | 15 | 3.6 in | 7.8 h/day | 76% |
| September | 53° | 40° | 11 | 2.1 in | 7.0 h/day | 77% |
| October | 36° | 26° | 7 | 1.3 in | 4.9 h/day | 73% |
| November | 17° | 6° | 8 | 1.0 in | 2.5 h/day | 76% |
| December | 9° | -3° | 7 | 1.1 in | 1.1 h/day | 77% |
Fairbanks month by month
Fairbanks weather in January
January brings highs around 5°F (-15°C), lows near -7°F (-22°C), about 5 wet days and roughly 3 snowy days - typically the coldest month and the driest month of the year in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks weather in February
February brings highs around 13°F (-11°C), lows near -2°F (-19°C), about 6 wet days and roughly 5 snowy days.
Fairbanks weather in March
March brings highs around 26°F (-4°C), lows near 7°F (-14°C), about 5 wet days and roughly 3 snowy days.
Fairbanks weather in April
April brings highs around 43°F (6°C), lows near 23°F (-5°C), about 5 wet days and roughly 2 snowy days.
Fairbanks weather in May
May brings highs around 60°F (16°C), lows near 40°F (4°C), about 8 wet days.
Fairbanks weather in June
June brings highs around 70°F (21°C), lows near 52°F (11°C), about 10 wet days - typically the sunniest month of the year in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks weather in July
July brings highs around 71°F (22°C), lows near 55°F (13°C), about 12 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks weather in August
August brings highs around 64°F (18°C), lows near 50°F (10°C), about 15 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks weather in September
September brings highs around 53°F (12°C), lows near 40°F (4°C), about 11 wet days.
Fairbanks weather in October
October brings highs around 36°F (2°C), lows near 26°F (-4°C), about 7 wet days and roughly 3 snowy days.
Fairbanks weather in November
November brings highs around 17°F (-8°C), lows near 6°F (-14°C), about 8 wet days and roughly 6 snowy days.
Fairbanks weather in December
December brings highs around 9°F (-13°C), lows near -3°F (-19°C), about 7 wet days and roughly 5 snowy days.
Seasons in Fairbanks
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Fairbanks is chilly, with daytime highs averaging 43°F (6°C) and nights around 23°F (-5°C); rain comes on about 17 days over the three months, plus about 6 snowy days. Daylight is generous - around 11.0 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Summer is mild and warm here - highs near 68°F (20°C), nights near 52°F (11°C), and rain falls on around 37 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.4 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Fairbanks is frigid: 35°F (2°C) by day, 24°F (-4°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 26 days across the season, plus about 9 snowy days. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Fairbanks is bitterly cold, with daytime highs averaging 9°F (-13°C) and nights around -4°F (-20°C); expect showers on roughly 18 days across the season, plus about 14 snowy days. Sun is scarce, averaging 2.8 hours a day.
Climate questions, answered
Is Fairbanks humid?
How hot does Fairbanks get in summer?
How sunny is Fairbanks?
How many rainy days does Fairbanks get in a year?
How cold does Fairbanks get in winter?
When is the dry season in Fairbanks?
Best time to visit Fairbanks
May to September is the sweet spot for Fairbanks - these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year. Expect 64°F (18°C) in the afternoon and around 11 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
Pack for Fairbanks with a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Note the gap between afternoon and night: July pairs 71°F (22°C) with 55°F (13°C).
Fairbanks temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.