January is one of the cooler months of the year in Fairbanks, with average highs near -17°C and lows around -23°C (mean -20°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 27 mm of rainfall and 95% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Fairbanks. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Fairbanks was 1981 — when the month averaged -8.6°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -30.2°C. Typical January days reach -17°C with nights near -23°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Fairbanks, averaging 27 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1993 with 79 mm, while the driest was 1982 at 7 mm.
Relative humidity in Fairbanks during January averages 95%. The most humid Januarys were 1989 and 1993 at 97%, and the least humid was 1982 at 92%.
January receives about 0.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Fairbanks. The sunniest Januarys were 2004, 2005 and 2006 at 0.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2023, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.1.
Average wind speed in Fairbanks during January is 2.6 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1986 and 1994 at 3.6 m/s, while the calmest was 1989 at 1.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -19.5°C | -21.4°C | -20.4°C | -19.2°C | -19.1°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | -16.5°C | -18.2°C | -17.3°C | -16.3°C | -16.2°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Low | -22.6°C | -24.6°C | -23.4°C | -22.1°C | -21.9°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 26 mm | 26 mm | 32 mm | 23 mm | 31 mm | +6 mm |
January temperatures in Fairbanks have risen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -51.1°C (1989) to a record high of 2°C (2014).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 27 mm, with a wettest year of 79 mm.
A quieter season to visit Fairbanks
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Fairbanks. That said, January — with days averaging -17°C and nights around -23°C (mean -20°C) and low rainfall (27 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -9.4°C | -12.8°C | -16.2°C | 0.9°C | -35.8°C | 69 mm | 94% | 2.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2024 | -21.2°C | -24.1°C | -27.0°C | -8.2°C | -42.7°C | 26 mm | 96% | 2.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2023 | -13.0°C | -15.7°C | -18.5°C | -4.7°C | -36.0°C | 36 mm | 95% | 2.3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2022 | -17.2°C | -20.2°C | -23.2°C | -0.8°C | -37.9°C | 22 mm | 93% | 3.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2021 | -12.7°C | -15.6°C | -18.5°C | -3.2°C | -33.8°C | 15 mm | 94% | 2.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2020 | -23.7°C | -26.0°C | -28.2°C | -11.3°C | -38.1°C | 21 mm | 93% | 2.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2019 | -16.4°C | -19.2°C | -22.1°C | -1.3°C | -37.7°C | 14 mm | 93% | 2.3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2018 | -16.0°C | -18.6°C | -21.1°C | 0.0°C | -31.7°C | 32 mm | 94% | 2.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2017 | -17.3°C | -20.7°C | -24.0°C | -3.8°C | -41.1°C | 29 mm | 95% | 1.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2016 | -10.9°C | -13.3°C | -15.7°C | -1.6°C | -24.8°C | 10 mm | 93% | 3.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2015 | -16.3°C | -18.7°C | -21.1°C | -2.1°C | -39.5°C | 17 mm | 92% | 2.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2014 | -8.4°C | -11.7°C | -15.0°C | 2.0°C | -35.5°C | 33 mm | 94% | 2.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2013 | -14.2°C | -17.4°C | -20.6°C | 0.8°C | -41.0°C | 44 mm | 94% | 3.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2012 | -26.5°C | -29.7°C | -32.9°C | -7.1°C | -42.4°C | 31 mm | 96% | 2.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2011 | -16.6°C | -19.7°C | -22.8°C | -0.5°C | -39.8°C | 12 mm | 94% | 2.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2010 | -20.4°C | -23.0°C | -25.5°C | -12.0°C | -37.5°C | 8 mm | 95% | 2.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2009 | -20.0°C | -23.2°C | -26.4°C | 1.6°C | -40.0°C | 24 mm | 94% | 2.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2008 | -19.3°C | -22.6°C | -25.9°C | -1.2°C | -40.3°C | 26 mm | 94% | 2.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2007 | -15.7°C | -18.4°C | -21.0°C | -1.7°C | -38.0°C | 26 mm | 96% | 2.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2006 | -24.2°C | -26.4°C | -28.6°C | -11.9°C | -41.4°C | 14 mm | 96% | 1.8 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2005 | -17.7°C | -21.0°C | -24.4°C | -0.5°C | -42.2°C | 35 mm | 95% | 2.7 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2004 | -22.7°C | -25.8°C | -28.9°C | -10.6°C | -41.7°C | 20 mm | 94% | 3.1 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2003 | -14.0°C | -17.1°C | -20.1°C | -2.8°C | -37.8°C | 27 mm | 94% | 2.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2002 | -12.3°C | -15.5°C | -18.7°C | -1.3°C | -40.4°C | 41 mm | 96% | 2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2001 | -9.5°C | -12.6°C | -15.8°C | 0.9°C | -31.1°C | 32 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2000 | -18.0°C | -21.1°C | -24.2°C | -1.4°C | -42.5°C | 72 mm | 96% | 2.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1999 | -21.0°C | -24.9°C | -28.8°C | -4.0°C | -43.0°C | 19 mm | 95% | 2.3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1998 | -19.4°C | -22.3°C | -25.2°C | -3.4°C | -38.5°C | 7 mm | 95% | 3.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1997 | -19.1°C | -22.2°C | -25.3°C | -1.2°C | -44.4°C | 14 mm | 93% | 2.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1996 | -22.9°C | -25.5°C | -28.0°C | -6.3°C | -39.3°C | 11 mm | 95% | 2.3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1995 | -15.1°C | -18.2°C | -21.3°C | -1.0°C | -38.4°C | 19 mm | 95% | 2.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1994 | -15.9°C | -18.7°C | -21.5°C | 0.8°C | -39.9°C | 17 mm | 93% | 3.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1993 🌧️ | -15.6°C | -19.5°C | -23.5°C | -1.3°C | -44.7°C | 79 mm | 97% | 2.3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1992 | -17.2°C | -19.7°C | -22.2°C | -6.2°C | -31.4°C | 31 mm | 94% | 3.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1991 | -16.5°C | -19.9°C | -23.2°C | 0.4°C | -43.5°C | 36 mm | 95% | 2.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1990 | -19.7°C | -23.1°C | -26.5°C | -5.8°C | -41.1°C | 25 mm | 95% | 2.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -27.4°C | -30.2°C | -33.1°C | -5.0°C | -51.1°C | 22 mm | 97% | 1.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1988 | -15.9°C | -18.7°C | -21.6°C | -5.3°C | -31.7°C | 20 mm | 95% | 2.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1987 | -14.0°C | -18.1°C | -22.2°C | -1.9°C | -41.0°C | 38 mm | 96% | 2.8 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1986 | -15.2°C | -18.3°C | -21.3°C | -1.9°C | -32.3°C | 19 mm | 94% | 3.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1985 | -6.7°C | -9.7°C | -12.7°C | 0.7°C | -20.7°C | 44 mm | 95% | 2.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1984 | -17.8°C | -21.1°C | -24.5°C | -0.5°C | -46.0°C | 41 mm | 96% | 2.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1983 | -22.0°C | -24.7°C | -27.5°C | -5.3°C | -42.4°C | 23 mm | 93% | 3.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -23.9°C | -26.5°C | -29.1°C | -14.1°C | -43.1°C | 7 mm | 92% | 3 m/s | — |
| 1981 🔥 | -5.4°C | -8.6°C | -11.8°C | 0.7°C | -20.7°C | 16 mm | 93% | 2.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -17°C with lows near -23°C (mean -20°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 27 mm of rainfall in Fairbanks, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 79 mm in 1993.
The hottest January reached 2°C in 2014. The coldest dipped to -51.1°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from -15.2°C to -14.7°C and overnight lows from -21.1°C to -20.7°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Fairbanks and one of the drier months, so plan for around -17°C daytime highs and -23°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Fairbanks, averaging -20°C.
For January in Fairbanks, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -17°C and lows of -23°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 95% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 2.6 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3.6 m/s (1986).
The wettest January on record was 1993 with 79 mm. On average, January sees 27 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Fairbanks behaves each January, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
