October is one of the cooler months of the year in Fairbanks, with average highs near -2.1°C and lows around -8.3°C (mean -5.2°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 42 mm of rainfall and 92% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the cooler months of the year in Fairbanks. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Fairbanks was 2013 — when the month averaged 0.9°C — while the coldest was 1996 at -12.9°C. Typical October days reach -2.1°C with nights near -8.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 1.2°C per decade.
October is about average for rainfall in Fairbanks, averaging 42 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 2025 with 78 mm, while the driest was 2016 at 7 mm.
Relative humidity in Fairbanks during October averages 92%. The most humid October was 1992 at 96%, and the least humid was 2012 at 87%.
October receives about 0.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Fairbanks. The sunniest October was 2016 at 1.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2021 and 2025 at 0.7.
Average wind speed in Fairbanks during October is 1.7 m/s. The windiest October was 1988 at 2.1 m/s, while the calmest were 2008, 2011 and 2017, among others at 1.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -7.2°C | -7.3°C | -4.5°C | -2.9°C | -3.8°C | +3.4°C |
| Avg High | -4.1°C | -4.0°C | -1.4°C | 0.1°C | -1.1°C | +3°C |
| Avg Low | -10.4°C | -10.5°C | -7.5°C | -6.0°C | -6.6°C | +3.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 46 mm | 38 mm | 38 mm | 39 mm | 52 mm | +6 mm |
October temperatures in Fairbanks have risen by about 4.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -31.9°C (1996) to a record high of 16°C (2003).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 42 mm, with a wettest year of 78 mm.
A good time to visit Fairbanks
October is a good time to visit Fairbanks, with days averaging -2.1°C and nights around -8.3°C (mean -5.2°C, cooler than Fairbanks's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. July and June are marginally more temperate, but October still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 🌧️ | 0.6°C | -1.7°C | -4.0°C | 8.2°C | -13.0°C | 78 mm | 94% | 1.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2024 | -1.8°C | -4.7°C | -7.5°C | 7.3°C | -21.9°C | 70 mm | 94% | 1.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2023 | -2.3°C | -4.9°C | -7.6°C | 5.9°C | -14.5°C | 49 mm | 94% | 1.6 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2022 | -0.4°C | -3.2°C | -6.1°C | 11.8°C | -18.6°C | 48 mm | 92% | 1.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2021 | -1.7°C | -4.6°C | -7.5°C | 1.5°C | -12.6°C | 38 mm | 95% | 1.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2020 | -1.0°C | -3.9°C | -6.7°C | 14.6°C | -18.3°C | 26 mm | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2019 | -0.2°C | -3.1°C | -6.0°C | 7.2°C | -13.2°C | 62 mm | 93% | 1.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2018 | 3.6°C | 0.7°C | -2.2°C | 12.0°C | -13.1°C | 60 mm | 90% | 1.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2017 | 0.1°C | -3.1°C | -6.3°C | 9.9°C | -20.7°C | 59 mm | 94% | 1.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2016 | 0.0°C | -3.2°C | -6.5°C | 9.1°C | -14.7°C | 7 mm | 87% | 2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2015 | -0.3°C | -3.0°C | -5.7°C | 2.9°C | -15.0°C | 29 mm | 93% | 1.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2014 | -3.8°C | -7.2°C | -10.6°C | 3.9°C | -17.9°C | 30 mm | 92% | 1.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2013 🔥 | 3.6°C | 0.9°C | -1.9°C | 8.8°C | -6.4°C | 60 mm | 91% | 1.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2012 | -2.4°C | -5.4°C | -8.4°C | 12.6°C | -17.9°C | 28 mm | 87% | 1.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2011 | 0.8°C | -2.2°C | -5.2°C | 8.3°C | -17.0°C | 22 mm | 90% | 1.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2010 | -0.6°C | -3.9°C | -7.1°C | 9.4°C | -15.2°C | 33 mm | 91% | 1.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2009 | 1.0°C | -1.9°C | -4.7°C | 9.2°C | -16.5°C | 24 mm | 92% | 1.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2008 | -7.5°C | -11.3°C | -15.0°C | 1.8°C | -25.5°C | 58 mm | 94% | 1.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2007 | -3.1°C | -6.2°C | -9.3°C | 6.8°C | -16.9°C | 28 mm | 91% | 1.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2006 | 1.4°C | -1.3°C | -4.0°C | 10.7°C | -13.5°C | 54 mm | 93% | 1.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2005 | -1.7°C | -4.7°C | -7.6°C | 5.6°C | -19.1°C | 21 mm | 91% | 1.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2004 | -1.1°C | -4.1°C | -7.1°C | 4.1°C | -20.0°C | 36 mm | 94% | 1.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2003 | 2.8°C | -0.1°C | -3.0°C | 16.0°C | -11.4°C | 37 mm | 93% | 1.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2002 | 0.6°C | -1.9°C | -4.4°C | 5.0°C | -11.7°C | 56 mm | 93% | 1.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2001 | -3.0°C | -6.0°C | -9.0°C | 13.0°C | -22.8°C | 24 mm | 90% | 1.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2000 | -3.7°C | -7.4°C | -11.0°C | 2.3°C | -17.6°C | 39 mm | 94% | 1.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1999 | -5.4°C | -8.4°C | -11.5°C | 4.3°C | -23.4°C | 48 mm | 94% | 1.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1998 | -0.5°C | -3.6°C | -6.7°C | 3.4°C | -10.9°C | 13 mm | 90% | 1.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1997 | -7.0°C | -10.3°C | -13.7°C | 5.9°C | -24.0°C | 45 mm | 92% | 1.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1996 ❄️ | -8.5°C | -12.9°C | -17.2°C | 1.4°C | -31.9°C | 28 mm | 93% | 1.4 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | -0.3°C | -3.5°C | -6.7°C | 8.8°C | -21.9°C | 29 mm | 92% | 1.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1994 | -3.9°C | -7.0°C | -10.2°C | 7.9°C | -20.7°C | 47 mm | 94% | 1.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1993 | -0.4°C | -3.3°C | -6.2°C | 7.0°C | -14.7°C | 51 mm | 93% | 1.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1992 | -7.1°C | -10.6°C | -14.0°C | 2.1°C | -29.6°C | 54 mm | 96% | 1.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1991 | -2.5°C | -5.8°C | -9.1°C | 8.5°C | -17.0°C | 43 mm | 93% | 1.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1990 | -4.4°C | -7.3°C | -10.2°C | 4.1°C | -17.9°C | 25 mm | 91% | 2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1989 | -3.2°C | -6.7°C | -10.1°C | 10.9°C | -25.9°C | 56 mm | 92% | 1.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1988 | -7.8°C | -11.4°C | -15.0°C | 8.7°C | -24.2°C | 49 mm | 96% | 2.1 m/s | 1 |
| 1987 | 0.5°C | -2.6°C | -5.6°C | 8.2°C | -18.0°C | 48 mm | 93% | 1.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1986 | -1.3°C | -4.6°C | -7.8°C | 7.4°C | -16.6°C | 65 mm | 91% | 1.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1985 | -6.0°C | -8.8°C | -11.7°C | 8.3°C | -25.2°C | 27 mm | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1984 | -2.8°C | -5.9°C | -9.1°C | 7.2°C | -25.4°C | 28 mm | 90% | 1.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1983 | -5.9°C | -8.7°C | -11.5°C | 4.7°C | -21.6°C | 64 mm | 94% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -8.2°C | -11.5°C | -14.7°C | 2.8°C | -29.0°C | 44 mm | 92% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -1.9°C | -5.0°C | -8.2°C | 2.5°C | -17.7°C | 35 mm | 91% | 1.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around -2.1°C with lows near -8.3°C (mean -5.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 42 mm of rainfall in Fairbanks, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 78 mm in 2025.
The hottest October reached 16°C in 2003. The coldest dipped to -31.9°C in 1996.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 4.2°C. Daytime highs moved from -5°C to -1.1°C and overnight lows from -11°C to -6.5°C over the same span.
October is one of the cooler months of the year in Fairbanks and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -2.1°C daytime highs and -8.3°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 6th coolest month in Fairbanks, averaging -5.2°C.
For October in Fairbanks, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -2.1°C and lows of -8.3°C.
Relative humidity in October averages 92% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 1.7 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 2.1 m/s (1988).
The wettest October on record was 2025 with 78 mm. On average, October sees 42 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 October, 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 October specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
