Arizona Weather

Arizona climate

Arizona is known for its arid desert climate, particularly in the southern lowlands where Phoenix regularly ranks as one of the hottest cities in the United States. Summer temperatures in the Sonoran Desert routinely exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and the city has recorded stretches of consecutive days above 100 degrees lasting over a month. Despite the heat, humidity remains very low for most of the year.

The North American Monsoon season transforms Arizona's weather from mid-June through September, bringing dramatic thunderstorms, flash floods, and dust storms known as haboobs. These storms can produce intense rainfall in short periods, leading to dangerous flash flooding in desert washes and urban areas. The monsoon accounts for roughly half of the state's annual precipitation.

Northern Arizona presents a striking contrast to the desert south, with the city of Flagstaff sitting at nearly 7,000 feet elevation and receiving over 100 inches of snow annually. The Grand Canyon region experiences its own microclimate, with temperatures varying by as much as 30 degrees between the rim and the canyon floor. Winter storms can bring significant snowfall to the high country while the desert valleys below remain warm and dry.