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Climate and lifestyle
Most
of the year Fairbanks enjoys sunny skies and well-defined seasons. Hot
summer days are balanced by cool winter nights. The Brooks Range
protects the Interior from Arctic winds while the Alaska Range keeps the
wet, humid coastal weather at bay. Fairbanks is considered a valley
surrounded by hills. It is a relatively dry climate, with rivers
and streams surrounding our city, including the Chena River which runs
through Fairbanks.
Click here for the average monthly
temperature.
We’ll let you in on a secret - the
summers are wonderful and the winters are actually less intimidating
than their reputation! Each season brings a change to our lifestyle. The
people who live in and around the Fairbanks area take adventure to
a whole new level. Check out the
Community Events going on throughout the year that you can attend,
as well as recreational
activities!
Spring
Fairbanksans love spring! Spring marks the return of the geese and swans, and the literal bursting of tree buds overnight! It’s a marvelous time to watch the
aurora borealis (northern lights),
and enjoy winter sports on warm sunny days. Spring is also the time for
gardeners to get all their plants ready for our long sunny days of
summer.
Click here for a
larger image
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A wide variety of flowers grow during summers
long daylight hours
Photo credit:
Todd Paris, UAF marketing and communications
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Summer
In summer, Fairbanksans
are known to be extremely outdoor oriented. We take full advantage of
the long warm summer days. Some people even say that summer is the main
reason they enjoy Alaska's Interior so much. The Chena river runs
through the middle of Fairbanks so it is easy to go
boating, Kayaking, canoeing, etc. when you chose to. There is also near
by lakes such as
Chena Lake Recreation Area, near
North
Pole, where parents can take their kids to go swimming,
fishing, and camping. We have many Garden enthusiasts' who plant a
variety of vegetables and flowers at their homes and some even sell
their produce at the local
farmers market. The Flowers in Alaska
are noticeably more vibrant in color due to the 18 + hours of daylight
throughout the summer. Since the sun sets long after 9:30 pm most of the
summer, that means more time in the day for people here to be outdoors!
Fall
During fall, Fairbanks is awash with golden leaves and brilliant, crisp
sunny days. Berry pickers can be found on most hillsides. Fall is also
the time when school starts and families
begin to adjust to darker nights from what they have been used to in the summer. This is a wonderful time for
hiking,
camping, hunting, and soaking in
hot springs.
Click here for larger image |
A cow moose snacks on a choke cherry tree at
the UAF Campus
Photo credit:
Todd Paris, UAF marketing and communications
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Winter
When winter finally comes , Fairbanksans don’t close up shop, we just change our gear. Our parkas, gloves, boots and scarves all become a fashion statement! Bundled up we take part in a variety of
community events and
activities. Whether it’s skiing, snow
boarding, snow machining, or just enjoying a night out, Fairbanks, knows
how to keep warm. December through February, are the coldest, but the
weather doesn't typically slow our daily commute. To combat potentially slick winter driving conditions, many Fairbanksans choose to drive all-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive vehicles
with studded tires (though 2-wheel drive vehicles equipped with seasonal snow tires work just fine).
To prevent cars from not
starting in the cold weather months and save gas, Fairbanksans
plug in their cars at or below 20° F. As with all activities taking place outside during our cold winter months, it is a good idea to dress for the weather and to take other safety precautions such as packing a
car emergency kit—especially if you plan to drive a long distance in a less-populated area. For more information about winter driving, visit:
http://www.roadandtravel.com/safetyandsecurity/winterdrivingtips.htm
http://wwwa.accuweather.com/winter-tips.asp?partner=courierpress&tip=driving
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/winter/wi_during.shtm
http://www.statefarm.com
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Copyright
2004 - 05 ©, Come to Fairbanks, all rights reserved.
This site is brought
to you by:
Fairbanks North
Star Borough, Economic Development Division
PO Box 71267, Fairbanks,
Alaska 99707. Phone: 907-459-1300
The preparation
of this strategy was financed in part by funds received from
the State Department
of Community and Economic Development, Division of
Community and Business
Development and the Alaska Industrial Development
and Export Authority.
Questions, suggestions
and recommended links may be sent to:
info@cometofairbanks.com.
Acknowledgements
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