Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska
Borough storm and disaster record · FIPS 02090 · population 95,579 · 7,335 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 237 records for Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 189 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (117 records). 237 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the March 12, 2015 cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1989, 14 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Nenana Ridge Complex” on July 6, 2025.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 237on 189 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 58 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $16Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 16latest 2025
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Fairbanks North Star Borough most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 117 since 2001. The rank column places the county among Alaska's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 117 | 86 | 2001-2026 | 2 | 6 | $2.5M | 17 of 29 |
| High wind and dust storms | 69 | 65 | 2001-2022 | 0 | 2 | $1.7M | 18 of 29 |
| Floods | 29 | 27 | 2001-2005 | 0 | 0 | $11M | 4 of 29 |
| Extreme cold | 13 | 9 | 2008-2022 | 3 | 0 | – | 9 of 29 |
| Wildfires | 7 | 4 | 2004-2009 | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | 5 of 29 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2009-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 29 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Fairbanks North Star Borough?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 18, 2022 extreme cold/wind chill (1 death).
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.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1062224)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-24 | Heavy SnowFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Two Rivers | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-24 | Heavy SnowFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Goldstream Valley And Nenana Hills | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-24 | Heavy SnowFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Upper Chena River Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-23 | Heavy SnowFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Eielson Air Force Base And Salcha | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Winter StormFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Fairbanks Metro Area | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Winter StormFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Two Rivers | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Winter StormFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Chatanika River Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Winter StormFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Eielson Air Force Base And Salcha | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Winter StormFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Tanana Flats | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Heavy SnowFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Goldstream Valley And Nenana Hills | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Heavy SnowFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Upper Chena River Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-14 | Heavy SnowFairbanks North Star Borough · forecast zone Fairbanks Metro Area | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-03-12 | Cold/Wind ChillFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley Near record cold temperatures on the night of the 12th and the morning of the 13th resulted in two unrelated fatalities. A 30 YOM died from exposure near the University of Alaska-Fairbanks campus along a bike path. Another man whose age is unknown, also died from exposure on the east side of Fairbanks, his body ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-10-29 | Winter WeatherFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley Warm air aloft along with light precipitation and below freezing surface temperatures caused light freezing rain during the morning and early afternoon on the 29th in the Fairbanks area, making roads and highways slippery. A traffic accident occurred northeast of Fairbanks on Chena hot springs road when two vehicles ... | 1 | 3 | – | |
| 2014-10-24 | Winter WeatherFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley After a number of days of temperatures above freezing, a light snowfall and falling temperatures occurred on the 24th in the Fairbanks area, making roads and highways slippery. A traffic accident occurred north of Fairbanks on the Steese Highway at the intersection with Hagelbarger Avenue when two vehicles collided ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2022-12-18 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley 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 ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2022-07-25 | Strong WindFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley Strong winds developed on the evening of the 25th in the Fairbanks area. Winds caused a significant number of downed trees, which led to over 75 separate power outages resulting in over 23,000 customers without power. The power outage caused 911 services in Fairbanks to be disrupted for several hours. Several small ... | 38 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $1.4M |
| 2011-02-20 | Winter StormFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley A 988 mb low in the southern Chukchi Sea at 1500AKST on the 20th weakened to 1003 mb near Barrow by 0300AKST on the 21st. The low caused a strong front to cross the area during the early morning hours on the 21st. A strong west to southwest flow aloft transported significant amounts of moisture into the Fairbanks ... | 0 | 2 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-05-09 | FloodFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley | 0 | 0 | $3.3M | |
| 2003-04-25 | FloodDenali Borough and 3 more · forecast zone Deltana And Tanana | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | |
| 2003-05-01 | FloodDenali Borough and 3 more · forecast zone Deltana And Tanana | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | |
| 2013-11-13 | Ice StormFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley | 0 | 0 | $2.5M | |
| 2022-07-25 | Strong WindFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley | 38 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $1.4M |
| 2003-07-27 | FloodFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley | 0 | 0 | $642K | |
| 2004-08-01 | WildfireFairbanks North Star Borough and 2 more · forecast zone Upr Tanana Vly Fortymile | 0 | 0 | $422K | |
| 2009-08-03 | WildfireFairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area · forecast zone Middle Tanana Valley | 0 | 0 | $344K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Fairbanks North Star Borough's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 34 | 43 | 40 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 41 | 25 | 3 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Fairbanks North Star Borough. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 34 · Feb 30 · Mar 9 · Apr 21 · May 10 · Jun 6 · Jul 13 · Aug 8 · Sep 17 · Oct 23 · Nov 29 · Dec 37 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Fairbanks North Star Borough
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Fairbanks North Star Borough: 9 major disasters, one emergency and 6 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (6) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-06 | FM-5597 | Fire | Nenana Ridge Complex |
| 2025-06-23 | FM-5596 | Fire | Himalaya Road Fire |
| 2023-08-03 | FM-5473 | Fire | Lost Horse Creek Fire |
| 2022-03-24 | DR-4648 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020-04-09 | DR-4533 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3446 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-06-28 | FM-5282 | Fire | Shovel Creek Fire |
| 2014-01-23 | DR-4162 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-05-22 | FM-2909 | Fire | Moose Mountain Fire |
| 2008-09-26 | DR-1796 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2004-07-01 | FM-2525 | Fire | Boundary Fire |
| 2002-11-08 | DR-1440 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
| 2002-06-26 | DR-1423 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2000-02-17 | DR-1316 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Avalanches |
| 1991-05-30 | DR-909 | Snowstorm | Heavy Snow, Ice Jams & Flooding |
| 1989-05-10 | DR-826 | Freezing | Severe Freezing |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Fairbanks North Star Borough had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 29 flood or flash flood records for Fairbanks North Star Borough from 2001 to 2005, on 27 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Fairbanks North Star Borough ranks 840th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.6 million on 244 claims filed in Fairbanks North Star Borough; the most in one year was 47 in 2008. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 1 · 1980: 20 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 2 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 4 · 1985: 11 · 1986: 6 · 1990: 2 · 1991: 28 · 1992: 3 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 3 · 1995: 3 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 5 · 1999: 2 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 12 · 2003: 23 · 2004: 4 · 2005: 5 · 2006: 2 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 47 · 2009: 4 · 2011: 2 · 2012: 1 · 2014: 12 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Fairbanks North Star Borough
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Fairbanks North Star Borough Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $101 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Very High | $1.5M | 17 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively High | $2.9M | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $20M | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | $13M | once in about 93 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $55M | once in about 13 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | $457K | once in about 30 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $452K | 39 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.9M | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Fairbanks North Star Borough
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Winter storms in AlaskaThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Alaska recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Fairbanks North Star BoroughThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Fairbanks North Star Borough's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis