AI-generatedFairbanks at a glance
- Best time
- May – Aug
- Warmest month
- Jul · 23°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,090 h
- Rain a year
- 312 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC−9 / UTC−8
- Elevation
- 136 m
Climate in Fairbanks
Fairbanks has mild to warm summers and cold winters with occasional snow. July is the warmest month with average highs of 23 °C, while January is the coolest at −17 °C. With around 2,090 hours of sunshine a year, Fairbanks is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 10.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Fairbanks
The best time to visit Fairbanks is from May to August. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to August. The wettest month is August with 64 mm of precipitation.
Fairbanks through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Fairbanks in spring
Mar – May
Good
- −4–17 °C by day
- 8.8 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days in all
Fairbanks in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 19–23 °C by day
- 8.6 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
Fairbanks in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- −11–13 °C by day
- 3.7 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days in all
Fairbanks in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- −17–−11 °C by day
- 1.7 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Aug
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Snow
Oct – Feb
Snow on 2 or more days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Fairbanks for you.
Your best months: June – July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compared in:Northern lights in Tromsø
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: May – August
Keep in mindSnow
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about −7°
- Midday, 13:00: about 0°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 1°
- Evening, 20:00: about −2°
- Night, 23:00: about −4°
08:4018:33
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 08:09–09:52 · evening 17:21–19:04
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:50–08:09 · evening 19:04–19:23
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Fairbanks compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 7° at the start of the month to −5° at the end. The days get 3.3 h shorter.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 7° | −5° |
| Night-time low | −3° | −14° |
| Daylight | 11.4 h | 8.1 h |
What is the weather like in Fairbanks in October?
In October, Fairbanks is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−7 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 3.8 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 6 days, totalling 22 mm; on about 3 of them it snows. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 9 h 53 min08:40 – 18:33
- UV index
- 0 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 11 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 66 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 3 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−8offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %13 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %87 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Warm jacket
- Hat, scarf & gloves
Compare two months in Fairbanks
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
May has the better holiday weather in Fairbanks: score 92 against 29. In May, days are 16 °C warmer than in October. May has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 6 hours longer a day in May.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 29 | 92better |
| Daytime high | 1° | 17° |
| Night-time low | −7° | 4° |
| Sunshine | 3.8 h | 10.2 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 6 | 5better |
| Rainfall | 22 mm | 20 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Fairbanks month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
30January−17° · 1.3 h
In January, Fairbanks is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −17 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−27 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 1.3 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 3 days, totalling 10 mm; on about 3 of them it snows. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in January32February−11° · 3.7 h
In February, Fairbanks is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −11 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−24 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 3.7 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 4 days, totalling 11 mm; on about 3 of them it snows. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in February43March−4° · 6.9 h
In March, Fairbanks is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−20 °C). The sun shines for around 6.9 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 2 days, totalling 7 mm; on about 2 of them it snows. All in all, March is a so-so month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in March50April8° · 9.4 h
In April, Fairbanks is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). With around 9.4 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 11 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in April92May17° · 10.2 h
In May, Fairbanks is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. With around 10.2 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 20 mm. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in May90June22° · 10.8 h
In June, Fairbanks is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. With around 10.8 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 42 mm. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in June84July23° · 8.5 h
In July, Fairbanks is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 8.5 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 59 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in July77August19° · 6.6 h
In August, Fairbanks is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 64 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in August54September13° · 5.3 h
In September, Fairbanks is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. Expect around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 37 mm. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in September29October1° · 3.8 h
In October, Fairbanks is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−7 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 3.8 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 6 days, totalling 22 mm; on about 3 of them it snows. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in October30November−11° · 1.9 h
In November, Fairbanks is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −11 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−20 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 1.9 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 4 days, totalling 14 mm; on about 4 of them it snows. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in November30December−15° · 0.2 h
In December, Fairbanks is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −15 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−25 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 0.2 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 4 days, totalling 15 mm; on about 4 of them it snows. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Fairbanks
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
FrostOctober: nights around −7°. Heating and warm bedding are a must.
The coolest nights are in January (−27°), the warmest in July (12°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from September to May, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 30 | −17° | −27° | 1.3 h | 3 | 10 |
| FebruaryFeb | 32 | −11° | −24° | 3.7 h | 4 | 11 |
| MarchMar | 43 | −4° | −20° | 6.9 h | 2 | 7 |
| AprilApr | 50 | 8° | −6° | 9.4 h | 3 | 11 |
| MayMay | 92 | 17° | 4° | 10.2 h | 5 | 20 |
| JuneJun | 90 | 22° | 10° | 10.8 h | 9 | 42 |
| JulyJul | 84 | 23° | 12° | 8.5 h | 11 | 59 |
| AugustAug | 77 | 19° | 9° | 6.6 h | 11 | 64 |
| SeptemberSep | 54 | 13° | 3° | 5.3 h | 8 | 37 |
| OctoberOct | 29 | 1° | −7° | 3.8 h | 6 | 22 |
| NovemberNov | 30 | −11° | −20° | 1.9 h | 4 | 14 |
| DecemberDec | 30 | −15° | −25° | 0.2 h | 4 | 15 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
64.84° N, 147.72° W · 136 m · America/Anchorage
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Fairbanks
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.8 of 9.9 hours of daylight in Fairbanks, 38 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain
Rain in Fairbanks: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Fairbanks has about 6 rainy days with 22 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Fairbanks
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 0 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 5).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- over 2 h
- Fair skin
- over 2 h
- Light brown skin
- over 2 h
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind & clouds
Wind and clouds in Fairbanks
How breezy and how cloudy Fairbanks is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Fairbanks typically peaks at 11 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light breeze or less.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 66 % of the sky over Fairbanks: mostly cloudy, with about 3.8 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Snow
Snow in Fairbanks
When Fairbanks is likely to be white: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, Fairbanks has about 3 days with at least 1 cm of fresh snow, 10 cm in total. The chance of seeing snow during a week's stay is 33 out of 100: possible.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Planning a trip to Fairbanks
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Fairbanks in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Fairbanks has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 92) and its weakest during October half-term (score 29).
- 48
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 4 °C by day
- 8.7 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
- 92
May half-term
May – Jun
ExcellentBest holidays
- 18 °C by day
- 10.3 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 79
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 21 °C by day
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 29
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 1 °C by day
- 3.8 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 30
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- −16 °C by day
- 0.8 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 8 h 40 min
- Distance
- 6,780 km
- Time zone
- UTC−8
- Jet lag
- About 6 days (9 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Good to know: USA
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Sockets
- Type A, B · 120 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the right
- Dialling code
- +1
- Emergency number
- 911
UK plugs need a travel adapter
Only 120 V: chargers marked 100–240 V work, other devices need a voltage converter.
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Fairbanks compared
Put Fairbanks side by side with another destination.
Fairbanks vs Dawson City
In October the holiday weather in Fairbanks and Dawson City is about equally good (score 29 vs 27). During the day it is about as warm in Dawson City as in Fairbanks.
| in October | Fairbanks | Dawson City |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 29 | 27 |
| Daytime high | 1° | 1° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 6 | 7 |
| Best time | May – Aug | May – Aug |
Through the year
Best places in the country
USA in October: the best places
In October, Fairbanks ranks 24 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Sacramento26°96
- 2San Jose24°96
- 3Reno21°95
- 4Napa Valley25°95
- 5Berkeley22°14°95
- 6San Francisco23°14°95
- 7Oakland22°14°95
- 8Boise19°93
- 24FairbanksThis page1°29
Places nearby
Near Fairbanks
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Fairbanks
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Fairbanks's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Fairbanks
When is the best time to visit Fairbanks?
The best time to visit Fairbanks is from May to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Fairbanks?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C and nights around 12 °C. January is the coolest month at −17 °C.
When does it rain most in Fairbanks?
The wettest month is August with 64 mm of precipitation. The driest month is March with 7 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Fairbanks get?
Fairbanks gets around 2,090 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 10.8 hours a day; in December there are 0.2 hours a day.
What time zone is Fairbanks in?
Fairbanks is on UTC−9 in January and UTC−8 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Fairbanks?
A nonstop flight from London to Fairbanks takes about 8 h 40 min, for a straight-line distance of about 6,780 km.
Which school holidays are best for Fairbanks?
Fairbanks has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 92) and its weakest during October half-term (score 29). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 48, May half-term 92, summer holidays 79, October half-term 29, Christmas holidays 30.