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The climate of Arizona is sub-desert, with high temperatures and low rainfall. In the state, three climatic zones can be distinguished: the southwestern desert area which includes the arid Sonora desert. The southeastern region of the Mexican plateau located at an altitude of around 1,000 meters. And the northern region of the Colorado plateau, located between 1,500 and 2,000 meters high.
THE CLIMATE OF THE DESERT AREAS
In the desert areas of the southwest (Sonora desert), which is the driest and most arid area in the country, the climate is desert. This area of Arizona climate has mild winters and hot summers. The annual average rainfall varies between 50 mm and 130 mm of rain.
In this area, especially during the summer months, temperatures undergo considerable daily fluctuations between day and night, sometimes with changes of even 28 ° C. The summer months, between May and August, have temperatures ranging between 32 ° C and 48 ° C. The months from November to February are mild with temperatures ranging between 4 ° C and 24 ° C.
THE CLIMATE OF THE HIGHLANDS
In the region of the Mexican plateau, summer temperatures are significantly lower than those of the Sonora desert, while on winter nights temperatures drop frequently below zero.
The Colorado plateau, due to its height, has a cooler climate, with cold and windy winters and mild summers, here in winter temperatures can go even several degrees below freezing.
The plateau receives between 150 mm and 400 mm of rain per year, in winter snow is quite frequent. In summer the days are sunny and warm with average maximum temperatures that vary between 20 ° C and 30 ° C and average minimum at night around 10 ° C.
Because of the Arizona climate and the shape of the state, rainfall varies quite a bit from place to place. For example, the rainiest areas of the country are the windward sides of the southeastern mountain ranges and the Mogollon Rim, which receive about 760 mm per year of rain. On the other hand, in the Sonora desert, annual averages of only 50 mm of rainfall are reached.
WHEN TO GO TO ARIZONA
The climate of Arizona is a dry climate with high temperatures. The best time to visit the Arizona highlands are the months between April and September. Furthermore, among these, those of May and June are preferable. The desert areas of the southern part of the state are good to visit in the winter months between October and April.
The climate of the Grand Canyon.
The official Phoenix weather data page.
THE CLIMATE OF ARIZONA: CLIMATIC TABLES
PHOENIX
PHOENIX (331 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 7,6 | 19,6 | 23,1 | 4,1 |
February | 9,3 | 21,5 | 23,4 | 4,4 |
March | 11,9 | 24,9 | 25,1 | 3,9 |
April | 15,7 | 29,6 | 7,1 | 1,7 |
May | 20,8 | 34,9 | 2,8 | 1,0 |
June | 25,4 | 39,9 | 0,5 | 0,5 |
July | 28,6 | 41,2 | 26,7 | 4,2 |
August | 28,2 | 40,2 | 25,4 | 5,0 |
September | 24,9 | 37,7 | 16,3 | 2,8 |
October | 18,2 | 31,4 | 14,7 | 2,5 |
November | 11,5 | 24,2 | 16,5 | 2,6 |
December | 7,1 | 18,9 | 22,4 | 3,9 |
YEAR | 17,4 | 30,3 | 204 | 36,6 |
GRAND CANYON: SOUTH RIM
SOUTH RIM – GRAND CANYON (2.134 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | -8 | 5 | 33 | |
February | -6 | 7 | 39 | |
March | -4 | 10 | 35 | |
April | 0 | 15 | 23 | |
May | 4 | 21 | 16 | |
June | 8 | 27 | 10 | |
July | 12 | 29 | 45 | |
August | 12 | 28 | 57 | |
September | 8 | 24 | 39 | |
October | 2 | 18 | 27 | |
November | -3 | 11 | 23 | |
December | -7 | 6 | 41 | |
YEAR | 388 |
CHINLE: CANYON DE CHELLY
CHINLE – CANYON DE CHELLY (1.678 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | -7 | 7 | 20 | |
February | -4 | 11 | 16 | |
March | -1 | 16 | 18 | |
April | 3 | 21 | 14 | |
May | 7 | 26 | 14 | |
June | 12 | 32 | 8 | |
July | 16 | 34 | 27 | |
August | 16 | 32 | 33 | |
September | 11 | 28 | 23 | |
October | 4 | 22 | 26 | |
November | -2 | 13 | 20 | |
December | -7 | 7 | 16 | |
YEAR | – | – | 235 |
TUCSON
TUCSON (728 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 4,3 | 16,8 | 23,9 | 4,9 |
February | 5,7 | 20,3 | 21,8 | 4,1 |
March | 7,9 | 23,4 | 18,5 | 3,9 |
April | 11,1 | 27,8 | 7,9 | 2,0 |
May | 15,8 | 33,1 | 5,8 | 1,8 |
June | 20,7 | 37,9 | 5,1 | 1,7 |
July | 23,6 | 37,6 | 57,2 | 9,8 |
August | 22,9 | 36,3 | 60,7 | 9,7 |
September | 20,3 | 34,7 | 32,8 | 4,4 |
October | 14,1 | 29,3 | 22,6 | 3,2 |
November | 7,8 | 23,1 | 14,5 | 2,7 |
December | 3,9 | 18,2 | 23,6 | 4,7 |
YEAR | 13,2 | 28,4 | 293,6 | 52,9 |
YUMA
YUMA (43 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 8,7 | 20,9 | 9,1 | 2,3 |
February | 10,1 | 23,2 | 8,4 | 2,0 |
March | 12,4 | 26,6 | 8,6 | 1,8 |
April | 15,3 | 30,2 | 3,0 | 8 |
May | 19,6 | 35,2 | 0,8 | 4 |
June | 23,7 | 39,7 | 0,3 | 2 |
July | 27,8 | 41,4 | 6,6 | 9 |
August | 27,9 | 41,2 | 13,2 | 2,3 |
September | 24,7 | 38,5 | 13,5 | 1,2 |
October | 18,3 | 32,2 | 5,3 | 1,1 |
November | 12,2 | 25,3 | 5,1 | 1,0 |
December | 8,1 | 20,2 | 11,4 | 2,1 |
YEAR | 17,4 | 31,2 | 85,3 | 16,2 |