Rio Rico, AZ climate
Rio Rico has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 95°, a January night drops to 31°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Rio Rico feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Rio Rico 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 | 66° | 31° | 1.0" | 0.1" | 4 | 0 | 44° – 53° |
| February | 68° | 34° | 1.1" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 45° – 56° |
| March | 74° | 38° | 0.7" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50° – 61° |
| April | 80° | 42° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 56° – 65° |
| May | 89° | 48° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 63° – 73° |
| June | 97° | 58° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 73° – 81° |
| July | 95° | 66° | 3.6" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 78° – 83° |
| August | 93° | 65° | 3.7" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 77° – 83° |
| September | 91° | 59° | 1.9" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 71° – 77° |
| October | 84° | 47° | 0.8" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 62° – 69° |
| November | 74° | 36° | 0.7" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48° – 62° |
| December | 65° | 30° | 1.3" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 43° – 53° |
| Year | 81° | 46° | 15.6" | 0.1" | 49 | 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 Rio Rico
Rio Rico gets 16 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and May the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 49 days a year.
About 217 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 5 and the first one by November 10. That leaves about 217 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 81% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Rio Rico
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Rio Rico, 58% of that work is heating and 42% 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 Rio Rico 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 Rio Rico averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.7°). The shift is larger than in 78% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Rio Rico’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 48° to 62°. July is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about Rio Rico’s climate
What is the coldest month in Rio Rico?
December, with a typical high of 65° and a low of 30°.
What is the hottest month in Rio Rico?
June, with a typical high of 97° and a low of 58°. About 115 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Rio Rico get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.1 inches.
When is the first frost in Rio Rico?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 10, and the last spring frost by April 5.
What is the rainiest month in Rio Rico?
August, with 3.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 16 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Rio Rico itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Tumacacori Nm, AZ (6 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.