Spring Arrives Overnight in Fairbanks, Alaska

In most places, spring unfolds slowly, with buds and shoots appearing over weeks. In Fairbanks, Alaska, that change can happen almost instantly: stands of birch and aspen commonly leaf out within a 24–48 hour window. This rapid, dramatic burst of green—locally called “greenup”—can transform a brown, dormant landscape into a living one in a single day or two.