Lake Montezuma, AZ climate
Lake Montezuma has mild winters and scorching summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 101°, a January night drops to 29°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Lake Montezuma feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Lake Montezuma weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61° | 29° | 1.3" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 40° – 51° |
| February | 65° | 33° | 1.3" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 43° – 54° |
| March | 71° | 38° | 1.3" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 48° – 61° |
| April | 78° | 43° | 0.5" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 54° – 66° |
| May | 87° | 50° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 63° – 74° |
| June | 98° | 58° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 73° – 82° |
| July | 101° | 66° | 1.7" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 80° – 87° |
| August | 98° | 65° | 2.1" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 78° – 86° |
| September | 93° | 58° | 1.5" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 72° – 78° |
| October | 82° | 46° | 1.0" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 59° – 70° |
| November | 70° | 35° | 0.8" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45° – 58° |
| December | 59° | 29° | 1.3" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 40° – 49° |
| Year | 80° | 46° | 13.3" | 0.0" | 50 | 0 |
“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 Lake Montezuma
Lake Montezuma gets 13 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 50 days a year.
About 196 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 16 and the first one by October 30. That leaves about 196 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 70% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Lake Montezuma
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Lake Montezuma, 63% of that work is heating and 37% 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 Lake Montezuma 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 Lake Montezuma averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.9°). The shift is larger than in 88% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Lake Montezuma’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. March swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 48° to 61°. September is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Lake Montezuma’s climate
What is the coldest month in Lake Montezuma?
December, with a typical high of 59° and a low of 29°.
What is the hottest month in Lake Montezuma?
July, with a typical high of 101° and a low of 66°. About 135 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Lake Montezuma get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Lake Montezuma?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 30, and the last spring frost by April 16.
What is the rainiest month in Lake Montezuma?
August, with 2.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 13 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Lake Montezuma itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Montezuma Castle Nm, AZ (3 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.