Horse Valley Ranch · Photo: Lawrence, R. Benjamin, creator · Public domainGrand Canyon West sits near the top of U.S. towns for July heat
The depth of winter brings overnight lows near 34°. By precipitation alone, it ranks drier than almost every U.S. town. January has warmed most since 1901–2000, part of a 1.7° rise. For walks and days out, March, April, October and November bring highs of 65–78°.
A year in Grand Canyon West at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Grand Canyon West’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Grand Canyon West’s place in Arizona beside it.
What a year in Grand Canyon West feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 265 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 5 and the first by November 28. Frost dates and degree days from Meadview 1w, AZ, 15 miles away.
The 2023 USDA map puts Grand Canyon West’s center in zone 9a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 21°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 8 inches of rain a year
February is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain falls on about 26 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.7" in a normal year at Meadview 1w, AZ, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Grand Canyon West
46% of the work is heating, so air conditioning is the bigger bill. Months averaging under 55° run from November through March.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Meadview 1w, AZ.
Living with Grand Canyon West’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
265 frost-free days in zone 9a. The last frost comes by Mar 5 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 28.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: March, April, October and November. 6.5 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Grand Canyon West from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (61%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 26%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Grand Canyon West and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Grand Canyon West yet.
Climates most like Grand Canyon West’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon West, AZ | 34° | 99° | 8" | 0.7" |
| Rosamond, CA | 33° | 98° | 8" | 1.2" |
| Monahans, TX | 30° | 98° | 12" | 0.7" |
| Sunland Park, NM | 32° | 96° | 9" | 2.0" |
| Fallon, NV | 22° | 96° | 4" | 4.5" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Grand Canyon West averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.8°).
A bigger shift than in 70% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Grand Canyon West compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Grand Canyon West’s place among Arizona’s.
Grand Canyon West weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Grand Canyon West’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Meadview 1w, AZ. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56° | 34° | 1.0" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 40° – 51° |
| February | 59° | 36° | 1.1" | 0.1" | 4 | 0 | 41° – 54° |
| March | 66° | 41° | 1.0" | 0.4" | 2 | 0 | 47° – 62° |
| April | 74° | 46° | 0.5" | 0.1" | 2 | 0 | 54° – 65° |
| May | 84° | 55° | 0.3" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 62° – 75° |
| June | 95° | 65° | 0.1" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 74° – 84° |
| July | 99° | 71° | 0.9" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 82° – 88° |
| August | 98° | 70° | 0.8" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 80° – 88° |
| September | 91° | 62° | 0.5" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 74° – 80° |
| October | 78° | 51° | 0.7" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| November | 65° | 40° | 0.6" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 46° – 59° |
| December | 54° | 33° | 0.8" | 0.1" | 2 | 0 | 39° – 49° |
| Year | 77° | 50° | 8.3" | 0.7" | 26 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 47° to 62°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where Grand Canyon West’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Grand Canyon West’s center.
- Snow: Meadview 1w, AZ.
- Frost dates, heating and cooling: Meadview 1w, AZ, 15 miles away.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Grand Canyon West’s climate
What is the weather like in Grand Canyon West?
A typical July afternoon reaches 99°, a January night drops to 34°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 79% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than all but 150 U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Grand Canyon West in winter?
December nights average 33°. About 39 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 39°.
How much snow does Grand Canyon West get?
About 0.7 inches in a normal winter at Meadview 1w, AZ, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Grand Canyon West?
July, with a typical high of 99° and a low of 71°. About 128 days a year reach 90° (Meadview 1w, AZ).
When is the first and last frost in Grand Canyon West?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 5 and the first fall frost by November 28, about 265 frost-free days, at Meadview 1w, AZ.
What growing zone is Grand Canyon West in?
Zone 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 21°.
What is the best time of year to visit Grand Canyon West?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), March, April, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Grand Canyon West getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.7° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 70% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Grand Canyon West.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.