2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Fairbanks, AK vs Watertown, SD

Highlights

On average, there are 209 sunny days per year in Watertown. Fairbanks averages 155 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Watertown, South Dakota gets 23.5 inches of rain, on average, per year. Fairbanks, Alaska gets 11.7 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.

Watertown averages 38.4 inches of snow per year. Fairbanks averages 60.9 inches of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.

Weather Highlights

Watertown, South Dakota
Summer High: the July high is around 82.7 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 2.3
Rain: averages 23.5 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 38.4 inches of snow a year

Fairbanks, Alaska
Summer High: the July high is around 73.3 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is -14.9
Rain: averages 11.7 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 60.9 inches of snow a year

BestPlaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Watertown is 6.6 (10=best), which means it is less comfortable than most places in South Dakota.

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Fairbanks is 5.1 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in Alaska.

Today's Weather - Fairbanks, AK

34°F

Today's Weather - Watertown, SD

51°F

Average Monthly High / Low (°F)

Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Fairbanks / Watertown

July is the hottest month for Fairbanks with an average high temperature of 73.3°, which ranks it as one of the hottest places in Alaska. In Fairbanks, there are 2 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Fairbanks are July, June and August.

July is the hottest month for Watertown with an average high temperature of 82.7°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in South Dakota. In Watertown, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Watertown are June, August and July.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Fairbanks with an average of -14.9°. This is colder than most places in Alaska.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Watertown with an average of 2.3°. This is colder than most places in South Dakota.

In Fairbanks, there are 0.1 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is hotter than most places in Alaska.

In Watertown, there are 10.0 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in South Dakota.

In Fairbanks, there are 230.3 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is colder than most places in Alaska.

In Watertown, there are 176.7 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is colder than most places in South Dakota.

In Fairbanks, there are 111.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is colder than most places in Alaska.

In Watertown, there are 34.7 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is colder than most places in South Dakota.

July is the wettest month in Fairbanks with 2.3 inches of rain, and the driest month is March with 0.2 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 51% of yearly precipitation and 10% occurs in Summer, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 11.7 inches in Fairbanks means that it is drier than most places in Alaska.


June is the wettest month in Watertown with 3.7 inches of rain, and the driest month is January with 0.6 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 42% of yearly precipitation and 8% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 23.5 inches in Watertown means that it is about average compared to other places in South Dakota.

August is the rainiest month in Fairbanks with 13.4 days of rain, and April is the driest month with only 3.4 rainy days. There are 102.6 rainy days annually in Fairbanks, which is less rainy than most places in Alaska. The rainiest season is Autumn when it rains 36% of the time and the driest is Summer with only a 14% chance of a rainy day.

June is the rainiest month in Watertown with 10.9 days of rain, and February is the driest month with only 4.7 rainy days. There are 87.8 rainy days annually in Watertown, which is rainier than most places in South Dakota. The rainiest season is Autumn when it rains 32% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 17% chance of a rainy day.

An annual snowfall of 60.9 inches in Fairbanks means that it is less snowy than most places in Alaska.

An annual snowfall of 38.4 inches in Watertown means that it is about average compared to other places in South Dakota.

November is the snowiest month in Fairbanks with 12.1 inches of snow, and 9 months of the year have significant snowfall.

December is the snowiest month in Watertown with 8.0 inches of snow, and 7 months of the year have significant snowfall.