Alaska Records Historic Cold as Fairbanks Ends One of the Longest Extreme Freeze Stretches Ever Recorded
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA — A historic chapter in Alaska’s weather records has officially closed after Fairbanks International Airport recorded a low temperature of -11°F, ending an extraordinary cold spell that now ranks among the longest extreme freezes in the city’s documented history.
According to data from the National Weather Service Fairbanks, the region just experienced 33 consecutive days with minimum temperatures at or below -15°F, making it the fourth-longest stretch of its kind since records began in 1904. The streak officially ended on January 5, 2026, placing this winter alongside some of the most severe cold events ever observed in interior Alaska.
How This Cold Stretch Ranks in Fairbanks History
The newly completed freeze now sits behind only three longer events in more than a century of weather tracking:
- 49 days ending January 27, 1943
- 39 days ending January 3, 1918
- 38 days ending February 4, 1966
- 33 days ending January 5, 2026
What makes this event particularly notable is that it represents the longest stretch of -15°F or colder temperatures since 1966, highlighting how rare such prolonged cold has become in modern decades.
Extended Period of Dangerous Sub-40°F Temperatures
Beyond the -15°F benchmark, Fairbanks also endured 11 consecutive days with temperatures at or below -40°F, from December 26, 2025, through January 5, 2026. That places this event as the 15th longest sub-40°F stretch on record, and the longest since 2009.
These conditions are not just statistical milestones — they significantly increase risks related to frostbite, infrastructure strain, and energy demand across interior Alaska.
Coldest Early Winter Period in More Than Half a Century
Temperature averages further emphasize how exceptional this event was. From December 1 through January 5, Fairbanks recorded an average temperature of -25.5°F, ranking as the fourth coldest early-winter period on record and the coldest for that timeframe since 1965.
December 2025 also ranked as the 8th coldest December in Fairbanks history and the coldest December since 1980, reinforcing how persistent and deep the cold air remained throughout the region.
Rare Return to -50°F in Modern Times
One of the most striking moments of the cold wave occurred on January 4, 2026, when Fairbanks plunged to -50°F. This marked only the 11th year since 1980 in which temperatures reached that threshold, underscoring how unusual such extremes have become even in Alaska’s interior.
Why This Event Matters Beyond the Numbers
While Fairbanks is no stranger to winter cold, the duration, consistency, and depth of this freeze make it a benchmark event for climate records and forecasting discussions. Extended cold spells of this magnitude test power systems, transportation, and daily life — and they provide critical data points for understanding long-term weather variability in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.
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