Phoenix, located in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, features a hot desert climate with extremely hot, dry summers and short, mild winters. The city enjoys over 300 days of sunshine each year, very low humidity, and minimal rainfall, making it one of the sunniest and driest major cities in the world – ideal for outdoor activities much of the year.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Phoenix’s climate is defined by its desert location, resulting in long, scorching summers and short, mild winters. Summers (June–September) are intensely hot and dry, with average highs of 40–42°C and lows around 27–29°C. July is typically the hottest month, and temperatures above 38°C are common from late May to September. The city experiences a monsoon season from mid-June to September, bringing brief, intense thunderstorms, dust storms, and a temporary rise in humidity, though rainfall remains low (about 183 mm annually). Nights stay warm due to the urban heat island effect, with some summer lows not dropping below 30°C. Sunshine is nearly constant, with up to 14 hours of daylight in June and 85% of possible sunshine throughout the year.
Winters (December–February) are mild and sunny, with average highs of 19–22°C and lows around 7–9°C. Frost is rare, and snow is virtually unknown. Winter days are clear and pleasant, while nights can be cool but rarely cold. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with warm to hot days (24–34°C), cooler nights, and blooming desert wildflowers in spring. Rain is infrequent, and humidity remains low (annual average around 37%). Winds are generally light to moderate, with July being the windiest month. Phoenix averages 85% sunshine, with 3,800+ hours of sun annually, and daylight ranges from about 10 hours in winter to over 14 hours in summer.
| Average climate data for Phoenix, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 18 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 33 | 39 | 40 | 39 | 36 | 29 | 23 | 17 | 40 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 9 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 9 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 7 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 9 | 15 | 128 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 45 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 43 | 38 | 29 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 43 | 30 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 19 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 13 |
| Average UV index | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
The best time to visit Phoenix is from late October to early April, when temperatures are mild (19–29°C), humidity is low, and skies are clear. These months are ideal for hiking, golfing, and exploring the desert landscape, with comfortable evenings and abundant sunshine. Spring offers blooming wildflowers and lively outdoor events.
The least favourable time to visit is from June to early September, when extreme heat (often above 40°C) and occasional monsoon storms make outdoor activities challenging. Prolonged exposure to the sun can be dangerous, and even nights may remain uncomfortably warm, especially in the city centre.
Phoenix’s annual average high is about 31°C, with lows averaging 18°C. July is the hottest month (highs 41–42°C, lows 28–29°C), while December and January are mildest (highs 19°C, lows 7°C).
Phoenix receives about 183 mm of rain annually, spread over 33–36 days. Most rain falls during the summer monsoon (June–September), but even then, rainfall is usually brief and localised.
Phoenix enjoys more than 3,800 hours of sunshine per year—about 85% of possible daylight hours. The city has over 300 sunny days annually, making it one of the sunniest cities in the world.
Late autumn to early spring (October–April) is best for outdoor activities, with mild temperatures, low humidity, and clear skies. Summer is too hot for most daytime activities.
Phoenix itself is not a winter sports destination. Snow is extremely rare, and temperatures are mild in winter. For skiing or snowboarding, head to northern Arizona’s higher elevations.
Swimming outdoors is comfortable from April to October, when air temperatures regularly exceed 30°C. Summer pool use is popular, but sun protection is essential due to extreme UV levels.
Pack light, breathable clothing, sun protection, a hat, and sunglasses. Bring a light jacket for winter evenings. Stay hydrated and avoid extended sun exposure, especially in summer.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (39.7 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is December (17.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 28.9 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (29.3 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (8.7 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 18.2 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (19.2 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is June (2 mm). Over the whole year there are 128.3 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (7.8 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is June (0.9 days). Over the whole year there are 45 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is September (1 mm). The months with the least snowfall are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November and December (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 1 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is September (0.1 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are March, June, July, October and November (0 days). Over the whole year there are 0.5 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (43.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is June (16.3 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 30 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is April (10.4 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is December (7 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 8.6 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (21.1 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is June (5.3 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 13.1 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 12.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 6.1 h). Over the whole year there are 9.4 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are May, June, July and August (UV index: 8). The month with the lowest average UV index is December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 6.
