Climate

Alaska is a land of extremes where nothing is done by halves, and the Fairbanks climate is no exception! Winter in Fairbanks is long and cold with plenty of snow, while summer is hot with 24 hour daylight at midsummer. Spring comes in April or May and the snow often returns by September. There is immense beauty to be found in all of Fairbanks’ seasons: lingering summer days when the sun barely sets so that a round of golf at midnight is not out of the question, and the unsurpassed wonder of the Aurora Borealis lighting up the winter night sky. Learn more at the Alaska Climate Research Center website.

Fairbanks Weather Statistics

Average January low: -19F (-28C)                   Average January high: -2F (-19C)

Snowfall annual average:  67.4 inches (171cm)

Average July low:  53F (12C)                           Average July high:  72F (22C)

Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis

One of the marvels of the natural world, the splendor of the Northern Lights can be seen in the Fairbanks sky from late August to April. Fairbanks is one of the best places in the world to view the Aurora, sitting as it does under what is called the Auroral Oval, a ring-shaped region around the North Pole. Clear nights give the best visibility, so plan to stay long enough to take in a good display. There are many ways to view the Aurora Borealis: during a winter festival, with a glass of wine in hand at a Fairbanks restaurant, while out snowshoeing or cross country skiing, or from the warmth of a hot tub or natural hot springs. Learn more about the science behind the beauty at the websites of the U of A Geophysical Institute and the Poker Flat Research Range.