Climate & Weather in Fairbanks
Fairbanks has a real, genuinely EXTREME subarctic climate with among the largest seasonal temperature swings of any major U.S. city: frigid winters (January average high around 2.1°F, record low -66°F) and warm, sunny summers (July highs around 75°F) with near-24-hour daylight.
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Learn moreGenuinely Extreme Winters
Fairbanks' winters are cited as genuinely extreme: January average highs run approximately 2.1°F, with average lows around -9°F. A documented record low of -66°F was set in January 1934, and a post-war record of -62°F was set in December 1961. Fairbanks is cited as the coldest city of its size in the United States.
Warm, Sunny Summers With Near-24-Hour Daylight
Summers are cited as warm and sunny: July average highs run approximately 75°F, with some sources noting occasional spikes into the 80s and low 90s. July brings approximately 19 hours of daylight, with a real, genuine midnight-sun period of approximately 70 straight days of usable light from May 17 to July 27.
A Genuinely Subarctic Climate With Extreme Seasonal Swings
Fairbanks' climate is cited as subarctic, marked by among the largest seasonal temperature contrasts of any major U.S. city -- extreme, frigid winters and genuinely warm, sunny, near-24-hour-daylight summers.
Meaningful, Above-Average Annual Snowfall
Fairbanks' average annual snowfall citations reviewed this pass ranged from approximately 58 to 78 inches, clustering around 61 inches -- well above a cited ~28-inch U.S. average.
Real, Documented Winter Hazards Beyond Cold Alone
As detailed on the flood-hurricane-risk topic page, Fairbanks carries a real, distinctive ice-fog driving hazard at approximately -30°F and colder (documented decreasing over 70 years), alongside real wildfire risk from the surrounding boreal forest during the brief, warm summer season.
Key takeaways
- Fairbanks' January average high runs around 2.1°F, with a documented record low of -66°F -- a genuinely extreme winter climate.
- Fairbanks' July average high runs around 75°F, with approximately 19 hours of daylight and a genuine midnight-sun period.
- Fairbanks averages approximately 61 inches of snowfall per year, well above the U.S. average.
- Real, documented winter hazards beyond cold alone include a distinctive ice-fog phenomenon and boreal-forest wildfire risk.
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