El Capitan, AZ climate
El Capitan has mild winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 35°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in El Capitan feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
El Capitan weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56° | 35° | 2.2" | 41° – 51° |
| February | 58° | 36° | 2.2" | 42° – 53° |
| March | 64° | 40° | 1.6" | 44° – 58° |
| April | 71° | 45° | 0.6" | 52° – 63° |
| May | 80° | 53° | 0.4" | 60° – 72° |
| June | 91° | 62° | 0.3" | 71° – 79° |
| July | 92° | 66° | 2.8" | 76° – 82° |
| August | 90° | 65° | 2.9" | 74° – 82° |
| September | 85° | 60° | 1.5" | 69° – 76° |
| October | 76° | 51° | 1.2" | 60° – 69° |
| November | 64° | 42° | 1.4" | 46° – 60° |
| December | 55° | 36° | 1.9" | 41° – 50° |
| Year | 73° | 49° | 18.8" |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in El Capitan
El Capitan gets 19 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and June the driest.
About 253 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 11 and the first one by November 21. That leaves about 253 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 91% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in El Capitan
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In El Capitan, 55% of that work is heating and 45% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How El Capitan compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in El Capitan averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.7°). The shift is larger than in 88% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at El Capitan’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. November swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 46° to 60°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about El Capitan’s climate
What is the coldest month in El Capitan?
January, with a typical high of 56° and a low of 35°.
What is the hottest month in El Capitan?
July, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 66°. About 114 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in El Capitan?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 21, and the last spring frost by March 11.
What is the rainiest month in El Capitan?
August, with 2.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 19 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for El Capitan itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Globe #3, AZ (11 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.