Tonto Basin, AZ climate
Tonto Basin has mild winters and scorching summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 104°, a January night drops to 35°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Tonto Basin feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Tonto Basin 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 | 63° | 35° | 2.3" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 46° – 54° |
| February | 68° | 38° | 1.9" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48° – 58° |
| March | 74° | 43° | 1.6" | 0.2" | 4 | 0 | 52° – 64° |
| April | 82° | 48° | 0.5" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60° – 70° |
| May | 92° | 56° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 68° – 78° |
| June | 102° | 65° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 77° – 87° |
| July | 104° | 73° | 1.5" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 85° – 91° |
| August | 102° | 72° | 2.0" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 84° – 91° |
| September | 97° | 65° | 1.4" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 77° – 84° |
| October | 86° | 52° | 1.0" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 66° – 73° |
| November | 73° | 42° | 1.1" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50° – 64° |
| December | 63° | 35° | 1.9" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 46° – 54° |
| Year | 84° | 52° | 15.4" | 0.2" | 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 Tonto Basin
Tonto Basin gets 15 inches of rain and melted snow a year. January is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 45 days a year.
About 255 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 7 and the first one by November 20. That leaves about 255 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 91% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Tonto Basin
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Tonto Basin, 45% of that work is heating and 55% 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 Tonto Basin 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 Tonto Basin averaged 2.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+3.0°). The shift is larger than in 95% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Tonto Basin’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 50° to 64°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Tonto Basin’s climate
What is the coldest month in Tonto Basin?
December, with a typical high of 63° and a low of 35°.
What is the hottest month in Tonto Basin?
July, with a typical high of 104° and a low of 73°. About 145 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Tonto Basin get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.2 inches.
When is the first frost in Tonto Basin?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 20, and the last spring frost by March 7.
What is the rainiest month in Tonto Basin?
January, with 2.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 15 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Tonto Basin itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Roosevelt 1 S, AZ (17 mi, snow) and Punkin Ctr, AZ (1 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.