Matt Phelps

15F above has never felt warmer

A screen capture of the Fairview ‘, OK tornado from Jeromy Carter.

🥲
The afternoon forecast discussion from NWS Fairbanks

The inversion broke pretty dramatically at my house this morning. Over a span of 45 minutes the temperature went from -30F to -8F

Fairbanks airport low temperature through 615am AKST Tuesday has been-40F/C. This is the 27th day this winter with a low of -40F/C or lower, the most since 1970-71. #akwx #Climate @themattphelps.bsky.social @leahwrenn.bsky.social @jenniferschell16.bsky.social

Hear me out the country would be better off if we didn't elect the absolute dumbest people in it to run it

Another morning right around -45F

Graphic plotting Fairbanks airport daily high and low temperatures Dec 1, 2025 to Feb 28, 2026 along with the 1991-2020 normal temperatures and significant snowfalls indicated.

Fairbanks winter in one graphic. Average temperature of -14.6F (-25.9C) lowest since 1970-71. However, the lowest temperature of -50F (-45.6C) was not especially unusual. Snowy, but mid-winter 2021-22 had more snow and 2016-17 almost exactly the same snowfall Dec-Feb. #akwx #Climate #Winter2026

Hit -50F exactly at 6:43am

Incredible

Decoded list of weather observations from Fairbanks Airport Sunday morning March 1, 2026 showing the low temperature between 3m and 9am AKST was -49F and at 9am visibility was one quarter mile in ice fog.

Fairbanks airport low temperature Sunday morning of -49F (-45.0C) ties the record low for March 1 (also 1956). The only lower March temps were March 12 & 13, 1911, when the low temp both days was -56F. Also, this is likely the first time with dense ice fog in March since Mar 1, 1956. #akwx #Climate

The rare March -40 club

Time series plot of Fairbanks, Alaska winter (Dec-Feb) average temperature each season 1929-30 to 2025-26. The ten highest and lowest values are color coded and two era means are shown (1929-30 to 1975-76 and 1976-77 to present).

Fairbanks airport December through February 2025-26 average temperature was -14.6F (-25.9C), which is 10.5F (5.8C) below the 1991-2020 normal. This is the eighth coldest winter in the past century and the first "top ten" coldest since 1970-71. #akwx #Climate #Winter2026 @leahwrenn.bsky.social

Happy first day of meteorological spring

It is currently -48F

Audubon sketches of five commonly seen winter birds in eastern Interior Alaska with the Tanacross Dene names annotated. Left to right: jîiz (Canada jay), ts’egąąg (chickadee), dįįts nęy (redpoll), taatsą́ą’ (raven), thuls̲h̲iid (boreal owl).

Commonly seen winter birds in eastern Interior Alaska with their rightful Tanacross Dene names. Bird sketches courtesy @audubon.org #Dene #Language #Alaska #Birds

Already back down to -25F and falling fast

Maybe one last -50F at my house for the season

And back down to -40 at my house again. What a wild winter.

I’m right by Big Eldorado creek

Sitting right around -50F at my house this morning

Best winter ever

Low temperature at Fairbanks airport through Friday 545am has been -49F (-45.0C). This is the lowest temperature this late in the season since March 1, 1956 (-49F). Of course, the temp could well go lower in the next several hours. #akwx #Winter2026 @carrieinfbx.bsky.social

The high temperature in Fairbanks today was -21F. It's been 70 years since Fairbanks had a high temp in the -20Fs this late into the season. @alaskawx.bsky.social

Decoded hourly weather observations at Fairbanks airport showing the low temperature of -46F on February 26, 2026.

Fairbanks Airport low temperature Thursday morning of -46F (-43.3C) is the lowest temperature this late in the season since March 15, 1964, when the low was also -46F. #akwx #weather #Winter2026 @leahwrenn.bsky.social @coyotetrail.bsky.social @leepetersen.bsky.social

Sitting around -45F at my cabin this morning

Might I suggest grabbing some tacos before heading to UAF for the Science for Alaska presentation tonight?

Yes