Frost dates for Fairbanks Intl Airport, AK
At Fairbanks Intl Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 13 and the median first fall frost is Sep 13, for a typical growing season of 121 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 26. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 2a to 3b.
- May 13Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 26Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 13First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 121 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 11 | May 22 | Jun 3 |
| 32°F | May 2 | May 13 | May 26 |
| 28°F | Apr 21 | May 4 | May 14 |
| 24°F | Apr 13 | Apr 26 | May 8 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Aug 20 | Sep 1 | Sep 14 |
| 32°F | Aug 29 | Sep 13 | Sep 24 |
| 28°F | Sep 8 | Sep 23 | Oct 4 |
| 24°F | Sep 18 | Oct 1 | Oct 13 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 83 days | 101 days | 117 days |
| 32°F | 102 days | 121 days | 138 days |
| 28°F | 122 days | 140 days | 156 days |
| 24°F | 139 days | 156 days | 173 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99775 | 2b | -45 to -40°F | 6 km |
| 99725 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 9 km |
| 99703 | 2a | -50 to -45°F | 12 km |
| 99709 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 15 km |
| 99705 | 2a | -50 to -45°F | 29 km |
| 99702 | 2a | -50 to -45°F | 43 km |
| 99790 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 74 km |
| 99760 | 2a | -50 to -45°F | 74 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USW00026411, at 64.8039, -147.8761, elevation 132 m (432 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 222.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Fairbanks Airport #2 (1 km)
- Fairbanks Midtown (5 km)
- University Exp. Station (6 km)
- College Obsy (6 km)
- Ester (9 km)
- Aurora (9 km)
- Goldstream Creek (10 km)
- Ester 5ne (12 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.