Snowflake, AZ climate
Snowflake has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 20°, and about 13 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Snowflake feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Snowflake 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 | 49° | 20° | 0.8" | 2.3" | 4 | 3 | 25° – 40° |
| February | 54° | 24° | 0.6" | 2.0" | 4 | 1 | 33° – 45° |
| March | 62° | 29° | 0.7" | 2.1" | 4 | 1 | 40° – 50° |
| April | 69° | 34° | 0.4" | 0.5" | 3 | 0 | 46° – 56° |
| May | 78° | 41° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54° – 64° |
| June | 88° | 50° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 64° – 72° |
| July | 90° | 58° | 1.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 71° – 78° |
| August | 88° | 57° | 2.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 69° – 77° |
| September | 82° | 50° | 1.2" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 62° – 69° |
| October | 72° | 37° | 0.9" | 0.3" | 4 | 0 | 50° – 59° |
| November | 59° | 27° | 0.7" | 1.2" | 4 | 0 | 37° – 51° |
| December | 48° | 20° | 0.8" | 4.5" | 4 | 4 | 29° – 40° |
| Year | 70° | 37° | 10.5" | 12.9" | 53 | 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 Snowflake
Snowflake 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 53 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 8 days of the year.
About 149 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 11 and the first one by October 10. That leaves about 149 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 82% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Snowflake
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Snowflake, 87% of that work is heating and 13% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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 Snowflake 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 Snowflake averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.3°). The shift is larger than in 56% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Snowflake’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 37° to 51°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Snowflake’s climate
What is the coldest month in Snowflake?
January, with a typical high of 49° and a low of 20°.
What is the hottest month in Snowflake?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 58°. About 48 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Snowflake get?
About 13 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Snowflake?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 10, and the last spring frost by May 11.
What is the rainiest month in Snowflake?
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 Snowflake itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Snowflake, AZ (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.