When to go · Fairbanks

Fairbanks in January

Avoid month. Listed as a month to avoid: Nov–Jan (extreme cold, very short daylight), late Apr–early May (breakup, muddy roads).

Key facts

Verdict: Avoid
Temperature: −17°C (1°F)1°F (−17°C) / −27°C (−17°F)−17°F (−27°C); average high / low
Rain days: 8
Crowds: Low; United States overall
Prices: Low; United States overall

Plan around it

Verdict

AvoidBest and avoid months for Fairbanks

Listed as a month to avoid: Nov–Jan (extreme cold, very short daylight), late Apr–early May (breakup, muddy roads).

January is rated avoid. These months rate higher:

Long-term averages

FairbanksHighs around -17 °C (1 °F), lows around -27 °C (−17 °F), rain on about 8 daysHighs around 1 °F (-17 °C), lows around −17 °F (-27 °C), rain on about 8 days

United States overall: Cold and snowy north and in the mountains; Florida, Hawaii and the desert Southwest are the picks.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Fairbanks, side by side.

First month

Second month

Verdict
Jan: Avoid
Feb: Great (better)
Daytime high
Jan: -17 °C (1 °F)1 °F (-17 °C)
Feb: -11 °C (12 °F)12 °F (-11 °C)
Night low
Jan: -27 °C (−17 °F)−17 °F (-27 °C)
Feb: -24 °C (−11 °F)−11 °F (-24 °C)
Rain days
Jan: 8
Feb: 7 (better)
Crowds
Jan: Low
Feb: Low
Prices
Jan: Low
Feb: Medium
Festivals listed
Jan: 0
Feb: 1

January: Listed as a month to avoid: Nov–Jan (extreme cold, very short daylight), late Apr–early May (breakup, muddy roads).

February: Inside Fairbanks's best window: Feb–Mar (aurora, ice art), Jun–Aug (midnight sun).

Fairbanks: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.