Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Middle Tanana Valley, Alaska

2022-12-18 to 2022-12-23 · Middle Tanana Valley, Alaska

Event narrative

Temperatures fell into the 30s below zero in Fairbanks. for an extended period of time between the 18th and the 23rd. The high temperature on both the 20th and 21st failed to climb above -30 degrees (F) at the Fairbanks airport. The coldest official temperature at the Fairbanks airport during this period was -39 degrees; however, other stations in the area fell below -40. While the temperatures during this period were not record setting, they did result in the death of one person. A 55 year old homeless man died of exposure in west Fairbanks.

Wider weather episode

An Arctic airmass brought well below normal temperatures to Interior Alaska December 18th to the 23rd.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1062224. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.