Dry weather: only 17 inches of rain and melted snow a year in Timberline-Fernwood, less than in 91% of U.S. towns
January nights here settle around 17°. Winter nights are cold: in January they are colder than in 78% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.7°, most of all in March. Tender plants can go out after about June 16; in half of years the first frost comes by September 19.
A year in Timberline-Fernwood at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Timberline-Fernwood’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Timberline-Fernwood’s place in Arizona beside it.
What a year in Timberline-Fernwood feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 94 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by June 16 and the first by September 19. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Sunset Crater Nm, AZ, 4 miles from the town’s center, 120 ft higher.
The 2023 USDA map puts Timberline-Fernwood’s center in zone 6a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −7°. 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 49 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Sunset Crater Nm, AZ, falls mostly in January and December. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 17 inches a year; August is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 75 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Timberline-Fernwood
98% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Sunset Crater Nm, AZ.
Living with Timberline-Fernwood’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
94 frost-free days in zone 6a. The last frost comes by Jun 16 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Sep 19.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September. 28 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Timberline-Fernwood from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (62%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 4%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Timberline-Fernwood and its neighbors
Doney Park the hottest July afternoons (86°, 2° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Timberline-Fernwood’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timberline-Fernwood, AZ | 17° | 84° | 17" | 49" |
| Kalispell, MT | 18° | 83° | 16" | 54" |
| Castle Rock, CO | 18° | 85° | 18" | 58" |
| Ranchettes, WY | 16° | 85° | 16" | 65" |
| Los Alamos, NM | 19° | 85° | 15" | 42" |
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Timberline-Fernwood averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+3.2°).
A bigger shift than in 71% 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 Timberline-Fernwood compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Timberline-Fernwood’s place among Arizona’s.
Timberline-Fernwood weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Timberline-Fernwood’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Sunset Crater Nm, AZ. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44° | 17° | 1.5" | 12.2" | 6 | 20 | 24° – 36° |
| February | 47° | 20° | 1.5" | 9.4" | 6 | 14 | 29° – 40° |
| March | 54° | 25° | 1.2" | 6.1" | 5 | 6 | 33° – 45° |
| April | 61° | 29° | 0.8" | 4.2" | 4 | 2 | 39° – 50° |
| May | 70° | 36° | 0.8" | 0.8" | 4 | 0 | 47° – 57° |
| June | 81° | 43° | 0.4" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| July | 84° | 52° | 2.5" | 0.0" | 12 | 0 | 64° – 71° |
| August | 81° | 51° | 2.9" | 0.0" | 14 | 0 | 63° – 71° |
| September | 76° | 43° | 1.6" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 55° – 61° |
| October | 65° | 31° | 1.3" | 1.2" | 5 | 0 | 45° – 53° |
| November | 53° | 22° | 1.1" | 3.5" | 4 | 2 | 30° – 45° |
| December | 44° | 15° | 1.6" | 11.9" | 6 | 14 | 23° – 35° |
| Year | 63° | 32° | 17.1" | 49.3" | 75 | 59 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. November swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 30° to 45°. September is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where Timberline-Fernwood’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 Timberline-Fernwood’s center.
- Snow: Sunset Crater Nm, AZ.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Sunset Crater Nm, AZ, 4 miles from the town’s center, 120 ft higher; 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 Timberline-Fernwood’s climate
What is the weather like in Timberline-Fernwood?
A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 49 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 78% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 63% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Timberline-Fernwood in winter?
December nights average 15°. About 215 nights a year reach 32° or below and 10 reach 0° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 23°.
How much snow does Timberline-Fernwood get?
About 49 inches in a normal winter at Sunset Crater Nm, AZ, most of it in January and December, with snow on the ground about 59 days a year.
How hot does it get in Timberline-Fernwood?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 52°. About 13 days a year reach 90° (Sunset Crater Nm, AZ).
When is the first and last frost in Timberline-Fernwood?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by June 16 and the first fall frost by September 19, about 94 frost-free days, at Sunset Crater Nm, AZ.
What growing zone is Timberline-Fernwood in?
Zone 6a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −7°.
What is the best time of year to visit Timberline-Fernwood?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Timberline-Fernwood getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.7° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 71% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Timberline-Fernwood.
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.