Photo: Burley Packwood · CC BY-SA 4.0Patagonia reaches 100° on about 19 days a year, more than 95% of U.S. towns
The depth of winter brings overnight lows near 29°. Precipitation peaks in July and eases off in May. It is a dry place: less rain and snow fall here than on 91% of U.S. towns. Seedlings are safe outdoors from about March 20, with the first autumn frost due around November 17.
A year in Patagonia at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Patagonia’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Patagonia’s place in Arizona beside it.
What a year in Patagonia feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 239 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 20 and the first by November 17. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Nogales International Airport, 10 miles from the town’s center, 180 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Patagonia’s center in zone 8b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 15°. 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 17 inches of rain a year
July is the wettest month and May the driest. Rain falls on about 57 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.7" in a normal year at Patagonia Paton Ctr, AZ, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Patagonia
51% of the work is heating. 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 Nogales International Airport.
Living with Patagonia’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
239 frost-free days in zone 8b. The last frost comes by Mar 20 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 17.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April and October. 5.0 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Patagonia from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (51%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 13%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Patagonia and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Patagonia yet.
Climates most like Patagonia’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia, AZ | 29° | 92° | 17" | 0.7" |
| Ashland, OR | 31° | 91° | 19" | 0.5" |
| Alpine, TX | 30° | 90° | 15" | 2.2" |
| Lovington, NM | 26° | 93° | 15" | 1.4" |
| College Place, WA | 30° | 91° | 15" | 7.2" |
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 Patagonia averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.5°).
A bigger shift than in 63% 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 Patagonia compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Patagonia’s place among Arizona’s.
Patagonia weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Patagonia’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Patagonia Paton Ctr, AZ. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62° | 29° | 1.2" | 0.2" | 4 | 0 | 41° – 51° |
| February | 65° | 32° | 1.1" | 0.2" | 4 | 0 | 43° – 53° |
| March | 70° | 36° | 0.9" | 0.1" | 3 | 0 | 48° – 58° |
| April | 77° | 41° | 0.3" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 54° – 63° |
| May | 85° | 47° | 0.2" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 60° – 71° |
| June | 94° | 57° | 0.5" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| July | 92° | 63° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 13 | 0 | 75° – 80° |
| August | 90° | 62° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 13 | 0 | 74° – 80° |
| September | 87° | 56° | 2.0" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 68° – 74° |
| October | 80° | 45° | 0.9" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 60° – 66° |
| November | 70° | 35° | 0.8" | 0.2" | 3 | 0 | 45° – 60° |
| December | 62° | 29° | 1.4" | 0.0" | 5 | 0 | 41° – 50° |
| Year | 78° | 44° | 17.1" | 0.7" | 57 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. November swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 45° to 60°. July is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Where Patagonia’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 Patagonia’s center.
- Snow: Patagonia Paton Ctr, AZ (NOAA station in town).
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Nogales International Airport, 10 miles from the town’s center, 180 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- 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 Patagonia’s climate
What is the weather like in Patagonia?
A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 29°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 72% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 85% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Patagonia in winter?
December nights average 29°. About 45 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 41°.
How much snow does Patagonia get?
About 0.7 inches in a normal winter at Patagonia Paton Ctr, AZ, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Patagonia?
July, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 63°. About 110 days a year reach 90° and 19 reach 100° (Nogales International Airport).
When is the first and last frost in Patagonia?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 20 and the first fall frost by November 17, about 239 frost-free days, at Nogales International Airport.
What growing zone is Patagonia in?
Zone 8b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 15°.
What is the best time of year to visit Patagonia?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), April and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Patagonia getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.6° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 63% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Patagonia.
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.