Northern Lights in Fairbanks in November

Darkness in November

Darkness stops being the limit in November.

Daylight falls from under 8 hours on November 1 to under 5 by November 30, when the sun sets at about 3pm. The sky is dark enough for aurora from about 5pm and fully dark after about 6pm, so the viewing window comfortably brackets magnetic midnight, near 1am, with hours to spare on either side.

From November on, the real constraint is not how much night there is. It is how long you can stay awake and how long you can stand outside. Both matter more than darkness for the rest of the season.

If you found September’s window tight, this is the opposite problem: more night than you can use.

Weather and Cloud

Cloud is the month’s weak point, though no weaker than the fall. Weather Spark puts the sky overcast or mostly cloudy about 62% of the time in November, against about 63% in September and October. What November lacks is a trade-off: September pays for its cloud with comfort and reflections, and March is clearer, at about 55% on the same measure.

So November gives you a lot of night and roughly the same chance as the fall of being able to use it on any given occasion.

The practical response applies all season but matters more here: stay longer. Explore Fairbanks puts the odds above 90% for visitors who stay three or more nights and are out watching late. In November, four or five nights is a better plan than three.

Temperature

November is properly cold, and the gap between the average and the extreme is wider than in any month so far.

The average high is about 12°F (−11°C) and the average low about −4°F (−20°C), well short of January’s average low of about −17°F (−27°C). But the interior can turn severe in November. On November 17, 2011, the National Weather Service recorded −54°F (−48°C) at Manley Hot Springs, west of Fairbanks, while Fairbanks itself reached −36°F (−38°C), a record for the date. Those are not typical figures, but they are November figures.

Plan for heavy cold-weather clothing, whatever the forecast says. Standing still for two or three hours is the activity, and clothes that work for walking around a city at −4°F (−20°C) are not enough for it.

Some operators supply parkas, insulated boots and bibs, and others charge for them or leave it to you. Confirm with your operator in writing. If you are not covered, Fairbanks outfitters such as Alaska Outdoor Gear Rental hire out packages built for standing still in the cold.

What Makes November Distinctive

Winter activities start running

This is the real difference from October. By November a snow cover is normally established, and the snow-dependent activities start up through the month. Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service lists snowmobile tours from November 1, weather permitting, and dog-sledding kennels switch from wheeled carts to sleds once there is enough snow, usually during November.

For something active in the daytime, the North Pole Guided Snowmobile Tour, rated 4.8/5 from 77 reviews, is a one-hour ride through the winter forest with hotel pickup and all the cold-weather gear, heated helmet included. Early in the month, confirm it is running for your dates.

→ Things to do in Fairbanks in winter

It sits outside the peak

February and March are the peak of the aurora season, and December brings holiday travel. November falls between the fall and those peaks. There are no published month-by-month visitor figures to measure it, but in practice that usually means easier availability at the properties worth staying in, easier tour bookings and quieter viewing sites. That last one matters: at a shared pull-out, one set of headlights left on ruins everyone’s night vision.

→ Where to stay in Fairbanks for aurora viewing

Winter without the solstice extremes

November’s niche: you want snow on the ground and winter activities, and you would rather not attempt them in January. November is the answer, with December and January getting progressively colder and darker.

What You Will Miss

Clearer skies. Cloud in November is about the same as in the fall, and late winter is clearer.

The ice art. The World Ice Art Championships run from mid-February into late March.

The equinox bump. The Russell-McPherron effect lifts geomagnetic activity near the March and September equinoxes, and November sits well outside it. The effect is modest, and it matters less in Fairbanks because the city already sits under the auroral oval.

Reflections. The lakes have frozen by now. Open water is a September thing.

Holiday atmosphere. If you want Fairbanks at its most festive, December has it.

Who Should Choose November

Choose November if: you want winter conditions with activities starting up; you want to avoid the peak-season crowds; you want plenty of darkness without January’s severity; or you are booking late and finding February and March full.

Choose another month if: clear skies are your priority (March); the ice art matters (February or March); you want the mildest conditions (September); or you want the longest nights and the holiday atmosphere (December).

Compared With the Months Either Side

Versus October: November wins on dependability. Snow is usually settled, the snow activities are starting and the nights are longer. October is much milder and can still have partly open water early on. If you want to book winter activities with confidence, choose November.

Versus December: close, and mostly a matter of degree. December gives the longest nights and the holiday season; November is a little milder and outside the holiday rush. Cloud is similar in both.

Versus March: March is stronger on nearly everything that affects your odds: the clearest skies of the year, the equinox effect, established snow, ice art and enough darkness. November’s advantages are quieter viewing and longer nights.

→ Full month-by-month comparison

Practical Notes for November

Book four or five nights instead of three if you can. Cloud is the constraint, and extra nights are the only reliable hedge.

Plan for extreme cold even if the averages look gentler. Interior cold snaps in November are real.

Confirm gear with your operator. Practice varies widely across Fairbanks operators, and November is not the month to find out you are underdressed.

Stamina is the limit, not darkness. Do not schedule daytime activities before late morning, and build in one empty day.

Chena Hot Springs is open year-round, and the Aurora Ice Museum runs tours every day.

Our pick on GetYourGuide: the Northern Lights Tour with Free Photos from Arctic Night Tours, rated 4.8/5 from more than 250 reviews, picks you up at your hotel and follows the forecast to the clearest sky, which is exactly what a cloudy month needs. If standing out in November cold is the worry, the Aurora Glass House Experience at Cleary Summit (4.5/5 from 41 reviews) lets you watch from a heated 270° glass room.

→ Chena Hot Springs from Fairbanks

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the northern lights in Fairbanks in November?

Yes, and darkness is not the limit. By the end of the month Fairbanks gets under 5 hours of daylight and the sky is dark enough for aurora from about 5pm. Cloud is the main obstacle.

Is November a good month for the northern lights?

A solid one, not an outstanding one. It has long nights and the start of the winter season outside the late-winter peak, offset by cloud figures no better than the fall’s and no major events.

Is there snow in Fairbanks in November?

Normally, yes. A snow cover usually sets in during October, and about 12.5 inches falls in November. That is the main practical improvement over October, when snow-dependent activities may not be running yet.

How cold is Fairbanks in November?

The average high is about 12°F (−11°C) and the average low about −4°F (−20°C), but severe cold is possible: in November 2011 Fairbanks reached −36°F (−38°C). Plan for heavy cold-weather clothing.

Is November better than December?

A little milder and outside the holiday rush, with slightly shorter nights. Cloud is similar in both. If the holiday atmosphere or the longest nights appeal, choose December; if a quieter trip and slightly easier conditions appeal, choose November.

Are dog sledding tours running in November?

Usually, once the snow is deep enough. Fairbanks kennels typically switch from wheeled carts to sleds during November, so check with the operator for your exact dates.

Will it be busy?

Less than in February and March, the peak of the season, or over the December holidays. There are no published monthly visitor figures, but November sits outside all of those peaks.

How many nights should I book in November?

Four or five if possible, instead of the three-night minimum. Cloud makes extra nights the most effective way to protect your odds.

Next Steps

For the full seasonal picture: best time to see the northern lights in Fairbanks. Neighboring months: October and December. For somewhere to base yourself: where to stay in Fairbanks for aurora viewing.

Browse Fairbanks northern lights tours →