Climateby Month

Anchorage vs Fairbanks weather

Anchorage, AK and Fairbanks, AK · 259 mi apart

July highs: 66°F in Anchorage, 73°F in Fairbanks (Fairbanks is 7°F warmer). January highs: 23°F and 1°F (Anchorage is 22°F warmer). Anchorage has about 115 wet days a year, Fairbanks about 107. Snow: 77.9 in a year in Anchorage, 64.6 in in Fairbanks.

Anchorage, AK

-20°0°20°40°60°80° January: normal high 23°F (-5°C), low 11°F (-12°C) 23° 11° February: normal high 27°F (-3°C), low 15°F (-9°C) March: normal high 33°F (1°C), low 19°F (-7°C) April: normal high 45°F (7°C), low 30°F (-1°C) May: normal high 56°F (13°C), low 40°F (4°C) June: normal high 63°F (17°C), low 48°F (9°C) July: normal high 66°F (19°C), low 53°F (12°C) 66° 53° August: normal high 64°F (18°C), low 51°F (11°C) September: normal high 56°F (13°C), low 43°F (6°C) October: normal high 42°F (6°C), low 31°F (-1°C) November: normal high 29°F (-2°C), low 18°F (-8°C) December: normal high 25°F (-4°C), low 14°F (-10°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: July

Fairbanks, AK

-20°0°20°40°60°80° January: normal high 1°F (-17°C), low -17°F (-27°C) 1° -17° February: normal high 12°F (-11°C), low -11°F (-24°C) March: normal high 25°F (-4°C), low -3°F (-19°C) April: normal high 46°F (8°C), low 22°F (-6°C) May: normal high 62°F (17°C), low 39°F (4°C) June: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 50°F (10°C) July: normal high 73°F (23°C), low 53°F (12°C) 73° 53° August: normal high 66°F (19°C), low 48°F (9°C) September: normal high 55°F (13°C), low 36°F (2°C) October: normal high 34°F (1°C), low 18°F (-8°C) November: normal high 12°F (-11°C), low -4°F (-20°C) December: normal high 4°F (-16°C), low -13°F (-25°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: June, July

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Anchorage (January high 23°F vs January high 1°F)
  • Cooler summers: Anchorage (July high 66°F vs July high 73°F)
  • Less snow: Fairbanks (64.6 in vs 77.9 in)
  • Longer growing season: Anchorage (147 frost-free days vs 121 frost-free days)
  • More comfortable days: Fairbanks (79 a year vs 51 a year)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high AnchorageAvg high FairbanksWet days AnchorageWet days Fairbanks
Winter (Dec-Feb)25°F6°F2724
Spring (Mar-May)45°F44°F1716
Summer (Jun-Aug)65°F70°F3537
Fall (Sep-Nov)42°F34°F3630

Side by side over a year

AnchorageFairbanks
Hot days (90°F+)00
Freezing nights187222
Muggy days00
Comfortable days5179
Precipitation16.4 in11.7 in
Snowfall77.9 in64.6 in
Frost dateslast May 5, first Oct 1last May 13, first Sep 13
Daylight in June / December19.2 h / 5.6 h21.5 h / 4.0 h
Best monthsJulyJune, July

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh AnchorageHigh FairbanksWet days AnchorageWet days Fairbanks
January23°F1°F89
February27°F12°F87
March33°F25°F66
April45°F46°F54
May56°F62°F76
June63°F72°F911
July66°F73°F1213
August64°F66°F1414
September56°F55°F1511
October42°F34°F1210
November29°F12°F1010
December25°F4°F119

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Anchorage, AK: temperature from Anchorage Intl Airport (USW00026451), 5.4 mi SW of the city center; precipitation from Anchorage Intl Airport (USW00026451). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Fairbanks, AK: temperature from Fairbanks Intl Airport (USW00026411), 5.2 mi WSW of the city center; precipitation from Fairbanks Intl Airport (USW00026411). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.