Is Anchorage sunnier than Fairbanks?

Fairbanks is the sunnier: about 2,066 hours of sunshine a year versus 1,720 — a difference of 346 hours.

Which is warmer, Anchorage or Fairbanks?

Anchorage is warmer across the year: average daytime highs of 6°C (43°F) versus 2°C.

Which is better in winter (November–February), Anchorage or Fairbanks?

They are close in the November–February window: Anchorage averages 0/100 (about -3°C days), Fairbanks 0/100 (about -13°C).

Anchorage vs Fairbanks: which is sunnier?

🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 418 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Fairbanks is the sunnier overall: about 2,066 hours of sunshine a year to Anchorage's 1,720. Fairbanks has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 of 12 months, Anchorage in 1 (7 within 2 points).

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	Anchorage	Fairbanks
Sunshine hours / year	1,720	2,066
Sunniest month	July (61/100)	June (78/100)
Nov–Feb average score	0/100	0/100
Jun–Aug average score	55/100	72/100
Rain / year	820 mm	519 mm
Peak midday UV	4 (moderate)	3 (moderate)

Anchorage vs Fairbanks month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm
Month	Anchorage	Fairbanks	Anchorage	Fairbanks	Anchorage	Fairbanks
January	0	0	-4°	-16°	53	24
February	0	0	-2°	-11°	51	23
March	0	0	-1°	-8°	39	19
April	0	0	5°	3°	38	23
May	27	49	12°	15°	47	34
June	52	78	16°	20°	59	70
July	61	74	18°	21°	83	90
August	51	63	17°	18°	110	80
September	28	20	13°	11°	118	56
October	0	0	6°	1°	87	36
November	0	0	-2°	-11°	71	34
December	0	0	-3°	-14°	64	30

The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May Fairbanks · Jun Fairbanks · Jul Fairbanks · Aug Fairbanks · Sep Anchorage · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.

When to pick which

November–February: too close to call — Anchorage averages 0/100, Fairbanks 0/100. Anchorage is the warmer, around -3°C daytime highs vs -13°C. See the winter sun ranking.
March–May: Fairbanks (average score 16/100 vs 9). Anchorage is the warmer, around 5°C daytime highs vs 3°C.
June–August: Fairbanks (average score 72/100 vs 55). Fairbanks is the warmer, around 20°C daytime highs vs 17°C.
September–October: Anchorage (average score 14/100 vs 10). Anchorage is the warmer, around 10°C daytime highs vs 6°C.

Full month-by-month guides: Anchorage weather by month · Fairbanks weather by month · Best time to visit United States.

More comparisons: Anchorage vs Bethel · Anchorage vs Kodiak · Fairbanks vs Whitehorse · Fairbanks vs Kodiak · Fairbanks vs Nome · all head-to-heads