Frost dates for Fairbanks 11 NE, AK
At Fairbanks 11 NE, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 12 and the median first fall frost is Sep 16, for a typical growing season of 124 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 29. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 2a to 3b.
- May 12Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 29Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 16First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 124 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 24 | Jun 7 |
| 32°F | May 2 | May 12 | May 29 |
| 28°F | Apr 21 | May 5 | May 17 |
| 24°F | Apr 12 | Apr 28 | May 10 |
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 16 | Sep 2 | Sep 19 |
| 32°F | Aug 29 | Sep 16 | Sep 28 |
| 28°F | Sep 10 | Sep 26 | Oct 8 |
| 24°F | Sep 19 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 |
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 | 80 days | 102 days | 121 days |
| 32°F | 102 days | 124 days | 144 days |
| 28°F | 122 days | 143 days | 161 days |
| 24°F | 141 days | 159 days | 179 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99703 | 2a | -50 to -45°F | 16 km |
| 99775 | 2b | -45 to -40°F | 20 km |
| 99705 | 2a | -50 to -45°F | 25 km |
| 99725 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 27 km |
| 99709 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 32 km |
| 99702 | 2a | -50 to -45°F | 42 km |
| 99790 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 61 km |
| 99707 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 62 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 USW00026494, at 64.9736, -147.5100, elevation 348 m (1,140 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 18 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 209.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Gilmore Creek (1 km)
- Fox 2 SE (6 km)
- Fort Knox Mine (9 km)
- Aurora (17 km)
- College 5 NW (18 km)
- Goldstream Creek (19 km)
- College Obsy (20 km)
- Fairbanks Midtown (20 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.