Tucson, AZ climate
Tucson has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 100°, a January night drops to 38°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Tucson feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Tucson 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 | 67° | 38° | 1.1" | 0.1" | 4 | 0 | 48° – 58° |
| February | 69° | 41° | 1.1" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50° – 60° |
| March | 75° | 45° | 0.8" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 54° – 66° |
| April | 83° | 50° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| May | 91° | 58° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 69° – 79° |
| June | 101° | 68° | 0.2" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 79° – 87° |
| July | 100° | 74° | 2.2" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 83° – 89° |
| August | 98° | 73° | 2.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 83° – 91° |
| September | 95° | 67° | 1.3" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 77° – 84° |
| October | 86° | 56° | 0.7" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 67° – 75° |
| November | 75° | 44° | 0.7" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 52° – 67° |
| December | 66° | 38° | 1.2" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 48° – 56° |
| Year | 84° | 54° | 12.0" | 0.1" | 48 | 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 Tucson
Tucson gets 12 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and May the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 48 days a year.
About 307 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by February 5 and the first one by December 9. That leaves about 307 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 95% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Tucson
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Tucson, 28% of that work is heating and 72% 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.
Tucson and its neighbors
Tucson borders 11 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 3.6°. Tanque Verde has the coldest January nights (36°) and Flowing Wells the hottest July afternoons (102°). Tucson’s January low is 38° and its July high 100°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Tucson 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 Tucson averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.4°). The shift is larger than in 64% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Tucson’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 67°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Tucson’s climate
What is the coldest month in Tucson?
December, with a typical high of 66° and a low of 38°.
What is the hottest month in Tucson?
June, with a typical high of 101° and a low of 68°. About 158 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Tucson get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.1 inches.
When is the first frost in Tucson?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by December 9, and the last spring frost by February 5.
What is the rainiest month in Tucson?
August, with 2.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 12 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Tucson itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Vail 7 N, AZ (9 mi, snow) and Tucson Intl Airport, AZ (5 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.