Nelson, AZ climate
Nelson has mild winters and scorching summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 104°, a January night drops to 39°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Nelson feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Nelson 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 | 68° | 39° | 0.8" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 49° – 59° |
| February | 71° | 41° | 1.1" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 51° – 62° |
| March | 77° | 46° | 0.7" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 55° – 68° |
| April | 85° | 52° | 0.3" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 62° – 74° |
| May | 94° | 60° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 72° – 81° |
| June | 104° | 70° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 82° – 90° |
| July | 104° | 76° | 1.3" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 87° – 92° |
| August | 102° | 75° | 2.0" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 85° – 93° |
| September | 98° | 69° | 1.0" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 79° – 86° |
| October | 88° | 57° | 0.6" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 69° – 78° |
| November | 77° | 46° | 0.7" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52° – 68° |
| December | 66° | 38° | 1.1" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 48° – 57° |
| Year | 86° | 56° | 9.9" | 0.0" | 45 | 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 Nelson
Nelson gets 10 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 45 days a year.
About 287 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by February 23 and the first one by December 6. That leaves about 287 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 94% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Nelson
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Nelson, 30% of that work is heating and 70% is cooling, so air conditioning is the bigger bill.
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.
Nelson and its neighbors
Nelson borders 1 town with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.1°. Marana has both the coldest January nights (39°) and the hottest July afternoons (102°). Nelson’s January low is 39° and its July high 104°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Nelson 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 Nelson averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.5°). The shift is larger than in 71% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Nelson’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 52° to 68°. July is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about Nelson’s climate
What is the coldest month in Nelson?
December, with a typical high of 66° and a low of 38°.
What is the hottest month in Nelson?
June, with a typical high of 104° and a low of 70°. About 161 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Nelson get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Nelson?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by December 6, and the last spring frost by February 23.
What is the rainiest month in Nelson?
August, with 2.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 10 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Nelson itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Tucson 17 Nw, AZ (13 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.