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Winter's bitter temperatures are replaced by balmy summers

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The Interior -- home of Fairbanks and Denali National Park -- has rapid temperature swings, thunderstorms with hail and lightning, snow in the summer and other interesting conditions.

Although winters can be extremely harsh, with temperatures around -60 degrees Fahrenheit for days at a time, Interior summers can have high temperatures over 90 degrees.

Here are monthly averages -- high temperature, low temperature, precipitation (rain and melted snow), snowfall and snow depth for Interior locations: Big Delta, Cantwell, Circle, Central, Clear, Eagle, Eielson Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Healy, Manley Hot Springs, McKinley Park, Nabesna, Nenana, North Pole, Paxson, Tanana and Tok.

BIG DELTA

(100 miles southeast of Fairbanks near intersection of Alaska and Richardson highways)
Period of record: 2/1/1937 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
36.7	19.1	11.62	43.8

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	3.1	11.7	23.8	40.7	56.9	67.0	69.5	64.4	52.5	31.6	13.8	5.0
Min temp	-11.4	-5.6	1.9	20.4	36.9	47.2	50.5	45.7	35.5	18.1	-0.2	-9.3
Precip- tation	0.34	0.33	0.26	0.25	0.88	2.32	2.63	2.01	1.09	0.64	0.48	0.37
Snow- fall	5.6	5.2	4.3	2.8	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.6	9.2	8.5	5.8
Snow depth	8	10	9	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	6

CANTWELL

(South of Denali National Park, along Parks Highway)
Period of record: 11/1/1983 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
37.2	15.5	16.66	131.4

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	10.8	16.1	27.1	38.6	52.2	64.7	66.3	59.5	49.5	31.3	16.2	14.2
Min temp	-9.1	-6.9	-0.4	14.5	28.3	37.7	44.2	40.3	30.8	13.1	-1.8	-5.3
Precip- tation	1.05	0.68	0.48	0.34	0.77	1.77	2.67	3.23	2.72	1.03	0.77	1.15
Snow- fall	24.0	15.6	13.8	9.2	5.8	0.2	0.0	0.0	4.1	16.7	17.9	24.1
Snow depth	26	30	30	20	3	0	0	0	0	3	9	16

CENTRAL

(147 miles east of Fairbanks on Steese Highway)
Period of record: 8/1/1962 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
31.9/td>	8.9	10.65	51.8

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-12.7	-1.4	15.9	37.5	56.8	69.5	72.2	66.2	52.4	26.7	5.5	-5.5
Min temp	-30.7	-23.2	-13.0	10.4	30.7	43.2	46.6	40.9	29.4	9.6	-12.8	-23.9
Precip- tation	0.36	0.37	0.27	0.33	0.48	1.85	2.10	1.89	0.96	0.97	0.54	0.54
Snow- fall	5.5	5.6	5.3	3.4	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.2	13.7	8.7	7.8
Snow depth	16	18	19	16	1	0	0	0	0	4	10	13

CIRCLE

(166 miles east of Fairbanks along Yukon River)
Period of record: 6/18/1957 to 10/15/1999

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
31.4	9.8	8.16	46.6

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-9.2	-5.0	13.4	34.0	57.1	71.5	73.1	68.5	52.7	25.6	1.1	-6.5
Min temp	-25.0	-25.3	-14.0	6.2	30.6	46.8	49.6	44.1	28.9	10.5	-13.5	-22.0
Precip- tation	0.47	0.46	0.32	0.26	0.27	0.85	1.24	1.24	0.56	1.00	0.82	0.68
Snow- fall	6.5	6.6	4.8	2.8	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	7.7	9.0	8.1
Snow depth	17	21	21	15	1	0	0	0	0	3	10	14

CLEAR

(90 miles southwest of Fairbanks, near Anderson on Parks Highway)
Period of record: 12/8/1965 to 12/30/1997

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
35.3	14.6	12.96	50.1

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-4.0	4.9	21.7	39.0	57.6	69.9	70.6	66.1	52.7	28.7	11.3	5.7
Min temp	-24.2	-16.3	-3.4	17.5	36.5	48.1	50.5	45.3	32.0	12.4	-8.4	-14.8
Precip- tation	0.53	0.47	0.41	0.19	0.66	1.79	2.64	2.52	1.17	0.98	0.89	0.72
Snow- fall	7.4	5.9	4.7	1.9	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6	8.7	12.1	8.5
Snow depth	15	14	11	5	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	12

EAGLE

(Where Yukon River enters Alaska)
Period of record: 9/1/1949 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
35.8	12.7	11.92	55.3

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-4.5	4.2	22.6	41.8	58.6	70.3	72.8	66.8	53.7	31.7	11.2	0.2
Min temp	-22.4	-18.1	-7.4	14.0	31.7	43.6	47.0	41.1	30.8	14.6	-5.4	-16.9
Precip- tation	0.51	0.44	0.31	0.32	0.99	1.70	2.20	1.94	1.22	0.93	0.66	0.71
Snow- fall	6.9	6.8	4.7	3.6	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	9.6	10.7	11.3
Snow depth	17	21	21	13	0	0	0	0	0	3	8	13

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE

(Southeast of Fairbanks, near North Pole along Richardson Highway)
Period of record: 9/2/1949 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
35.8	16.5	12.89	74.0

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-2.1	6.3	23.8	41.4	58.6	69.0	70.8	65.7	54.2	31.4	10.5	0.0
Min temp	-18.3	-14.5	-2.4	19.8	37.2	48.2	51.2	46.4	35.2	16.4	-5.0	-15.6
Precip- tation	0.68	0.50	0.48	0.32	0.74	1.74	2.41	2.27	1.38	0.94	0.75	0.68
Snow- fall	11.4	8.4	7.3	4.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.2	12.5	14.8	12.4
Snow depth	14	16	17	7	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	12

FAIRBANKS

(Heart of the Interior)
Period of record: 9/1/1949 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
36.7	16.7	10.46	67.8

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-1.5	7.5	24.1	42.3	59.8	70.8	72.4	66.2	54.5	31.9	11.5	1.2
Min temp	-19.3	-14.7	-2.3	20.3	37.5	49.0	51.8	46.6	35.5	17.1	-5.0	-15.7
Precip- tation	0.59	0.42	0.36	0.23	0.57	1.36	1.78	1.86	1.06	0.80	0.69	0.73
Snow- fall	10.8	8.5	6.2	2.9	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.5	10.9	13.4	12.9
Snow depth	18	22	20	10	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	13

HEALY

(North of Denali National Park along Parks Highway)
Period of record: 11/5/1976 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
39.5	20.0	14.78	80.2

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	12.4	17.4	27.4	41.5	57.2	68.0	69.8	63.8	52.3	32.8	17.5	14.1
Min temp	-5.6	-3.5	4.9	20.8	35.9	45.0	49.6	45.9	35.2	17.0	0.9	-6.3
Precip- tation	0.59	0.64	0.32	0.46	0.82	2.37	2.71	2.46	1.62	1.21	0.72	0.86
Snow- fall	10.9	9.1	6.8	4.5	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.5	15.5	15.1	14.4
Snow depth	12	13	11	6	1	0	0	0	0	4	8	10

MANLEY HOT SPRINGS

(End of Elliott Highway west of Fairbanks)
Period of record: 9/1/1954 to 10/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
35.8	13.0	14.79	59.9

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-1.8	6.3	22.8	39.2	59.4	71.0	72.9	66.3	53.8	30.9	10.5	-1.1
Min temp	-20.6	-17.3	-5.7	13.9	32.7	43.7	46.9	42.7	32.3	14.2	-7.2	-19.3
Precip- tation	0.72	0.46	0.58	0.45	0.57	1.76	2.62	3.02	1.92	0.97	0.84	0.88
Snow- fall	10.4	7.1	7.2	3.7	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6	7.2	11.6	11.6
Snow depth	19	22	23	16	1	0	0	0	0	2	8	12

McKINLEY PARK

(East side of Denali National Park along Parks Highway)
Period of record: 9/1/1949 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
37.0	16.2	15.27	82.6

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	9.1	15.2	25.2	38.6	53.3	64.1	66.4	61.2	50.4	31.8	17.8	10.9
Min temp	-8.2	-5.1	1.1	15.5	29.4	39.4	43.0	39.7	30.5	13.7	1.0	-5.9
Precip- tation	0.69	0.59	0.49	0.32	0.80	2.30	3.16	2.53	1.62	0.99	0.86	0.91
Snow- fall	10.8	10.2	8.1	4.6	3.1	0.3	0.0	0.1	4.7	13.6	13.4	13.7
Snow depth	18	21	22	18	2	0	0	0	1	3	8	13

NABESNA

(North side of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park)
Period of record: 10/1/1967 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
34.1	14.3	11.73	53.9

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-0.2	9.2	24.7	40.1	53.4	63.0	65.5	61.5	49.9	28.6	9.7	3.6
Min temp	-13.3	-7.5	1.3	15.7	30.1	38.8	42.5	38.5	27.9	12.3	-5.2	-9.6
Precip- tation	0.33	0.42	0.15	0.29	0.83	2.55	2.84	1.77	1.14	0.51	0.48	0.42
Snow- fall	5.5	6.0	3.4	3.5	5.7	0.6	0.0	0.3	3.5	9.2	9.1	6.9
Snow depth	15	16	15	9	1	0	0	0	0	3	8	12

NENANA

(60 miles southwest of Fairbanks, where Parks Highway crosses Tanana River)
Period of record: 9/1/1949 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
35.6	14.3	10.74	45.2

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-0.4	7.3	21.5	39.3	57.8	70.1	70.7	64.9	52.8	30.4	10.8	1.5
Min temp	-19.0	-14.9	-5.7	15.9	33.8	44.8	47.6	43.3	32.9	14.8	-5.8	-16.6
Precip- tation	0.54	0.46	0.32	0.20	0.51	1.37	2.16	2.21	1.13	0.66	0.65	0.54
Snow- fall	7.9	6.2	4.1	2.3	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.8	6.7	9.3	7.8
Snow depth	19	23	22	12	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	14

NORTH POLE

(Southeast of Fairbanks along Richardson Highway)
Period of record: 10/1/1968 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
36.7	13.9	10.71	53.3

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-3.4	8.3	26.6	44.2	60.6	70.9	72.8	65.9	53.8	31.0	9.4	0.5
Min temp	-21.5	-15.9	-3.0	17.4	33.8	44.8	48.4	43.0	32.1	14.0	-8.8	-17.7
Precip- tation	0.61	0.36	0.54	0.28	0.60	1.36	1.66	1.63	1.13	0.91	0.83	0.81
Snow- fall	7.7	4.7	3.9	2.2	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.4	9.9	12.4	10.7
Snow depth	19	22	21	12	0	0	0	0	0	3	10	15

NORTHWAY

(Near where Alaska Highway enters Alaska, north edge of Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge)
Period of record: 9/1/1949 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
32.8	11.4	9.57	37.0

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-10.8	2.4	23.1	41.7	56.4	66.7	69.4	64.6	52.3	29.2	5.2	-7.0
Min temp	-27.5	-20.2	-8.5	15.0	32.7	44.2	48.1	42.7	31.2	12.8	-10.8	-22.9
Precip- tation	0.27	0.25	0.19	0.20	0.94	1.86	2.36	1.43	0.94	0.50	0.33	0.29
Snow- fall	5.4	4.5	3.4	2.3	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.2	1.2	6.8	6.4	5.9
Snow depth	15	17	17	7	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	11

PAXSON

(Eastern terminus of Denali Highway)
Period of record: 2/14/1975 to 5/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
36.3	15.3	20.90	110.0

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	8.8	15.3	26.5	37.4	51.1	63.2	65.6	60.5	48.6	31.9	15.4	10.9
Min temp	-10.0	-5.7	1.2	14.0	28.8	37.9	41.8	38.3	30.4	15.2	-1.7	-6.1
Precip- tation	0.99	0.76	0.80	0.59	1.08	2.57	3.18	3.06	3.10	2.27	1.09	1.42
Snow- fall	15.3	11.4	12.9	6.1	3.4	0.5	0.0	0.0	4.6	20.4	16.4	19.9
Snow depth	28	30	31	28	7	0	0	0	0	5	14	22

TANANA

(Junction of Tanana and Yukon rivers west of Fairbanks)
Period of record: 9/11/1949 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
33.9	14.5	12.69	47.3

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-3.2	4.0	19.2	37.5	56.8	69.5	71.0	64.2	51.3	29.0	8.5	-1.0
Min temp	-18.3	-15.0	-5.4	14.1	33.5	45.4	48.6	44.3	33.4	15.0	-5.2	-15.9
Precip- tation	0.58	0.51	0.52	0.36	0.59	1.36	2.08	2.67	1.68	0.97	0.66	0.73
Snow- fall	6.6	6.1	6.7	2.6	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.8	6.9	7.7	9.7
Snow depth	21	25	27	16	1	0	0	0	0	2	8	14

TOK

(Alaska Highway junction with Tok Cutoff)
Period of record: 6/11/1954 to 12/31/2000

Average annual high temperature	Average annual low temperature	Average annual total precipitation	Average annual total snowfall
35.8	10.5	9.08	33.4

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max temp	-7.4	7.1	25.4	43.9	60.0	70.4	72.9	68.1	54.4	31.1	8.4	-4.0
Min temp	-25.8	-16.9	-5.9	15.6	29.3	39.4	43.2	38.6	29.0	12.1	-10.5	-22.2
Precip- tation	0.31	0.28	0.15	0.17	0.58	2.16	1.94	1.30	0.74	0.55	0.49	0.40
Snow- fall	4.4	3.5	2.1	2.0	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.3	1.6	7.1	6.7	5.1
Snow depth	14	16	15	9	0	0	0	0	0	3	8	11

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