Fairbanks (AK) Monthly Rainfall & Precipitation

This page shows both the average monthly rainfall and the number of rainy days in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America. Long-term data from 1990 to 2020 was used to calculate these averages. Let's explore the details to provide you with a complete overview.

With annual rain/snowfall averaging 415 mm (16 in), Fairbanks maintains relatively low precipitation levels throughout the seasons. However, it does have a distinct dry season during certain months, creating distinct patterns as demonstrated in our detailed graph below.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

The average number of days each month with precipitation (> 0.2 mm (0.01 in))

The seasons in Fairbanks, bring significant changes in precipitation. The wettest month, July, receives moderate rainfall, with an average of 75 mm (3 in) of precipitation. This rainfall is distributed across 13 rainy days.

In contrast, the driest month, March, experiences much less snowfall, totaling 13 mm (0.5 in) over 6 snowy days. These distinct seasonal differences provide diverse experiences throughout the year.

July, the wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 23°C (73°F). The city receives 274 hours of sunshine in this period. During the driest month March you can expect a temperature of -3°C (27°F). For more detailed insights into the city's temperatures, visit our Fairbanks Temperature page.

Fairbanks's average annual precipitation is 415 mm (16 in). Let's compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

The climate in San Francisco, USA, is influenced by coastal weather, with 469 mm (18 in) of rainfall mostly during the winter months.

Osaka, Japan, experiences 1507 mm (59 in) of rainfall annually, spread across the year with wetter summers.

Melbourne, Australia, has 690 mm (27 in) of rainfall annually, spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

Mumbai, India, experiences a tropical monsoon climate with 1860 mm (73 in) of annual rainfall, with the majority of precipitation happening during the monsoon season from June to September.

Precipitation amounts are measured using specific gauges installed at weather stations, collecting both rain and snow and any other type of precipitation. Rainfall is measured directly in millimeters, while that from snow and ice is obtained by melting it. Automated systems often incorporate heaters to make this easier.

Information from these stations is transmitted via Wi-Fi, satellite, GPS, or telephone connections to central monitoring networks. This information is immediately updated and integrated into weather models and forecasts.

Climate change is affecting precipitation patterns worldwide, including Fairbanks (AK):

• Changing Rainfall Patterns: Global warming causes drastic changes in the patterns of rainfall. Some areas have been experiencing increased frequency and intensity of rainfall, while other areas experience longer dry spells or even droughts.
• Local Impacts: Many regions are experiencing heavier rainfall in the winter months and drier, hotter summers. This affects agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems.

• The U.S. has a significant number of thunderstorms every year, with over 14.6 million taking place across the world annually.
• Approximately 70% of lightning bolts strike land rather than oceans.
• A storm named John was the longest-lasting Pacific tropical storm, continuing for 31 days. As it crossed the dateline twice, it changed status from a hurricane to a typhoon and back to a hurricane.

For more detailed information about Fairbanks (AK)'s weather, including sunshine hours, humidity levels, and temperature data, visit our Fairbanks (AK) Climate page.