Tucson Mountains reaches 100° on about 80 days a year, more than all but 90 U.S. towns
January nights here settle around 39°. Precipitation is light here, less than falls on 97% of U.S. towns. Decade by decade the climate has edged up, 1.3° above 1901–2000. For walks and days out, the stretch from February to April and November brings highs of 70–83°.
A year in Tucson Mountains at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Tucson Mountains’ climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Tucson Mountains’ place in Arizona beside it.
What a year in Tucson Mountains feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 293 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by February 11 and the first by December 2. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Tucson U Of A #1, AZ, 5 miles from the town’s center, 120 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Tucson Mountains’ center in zone 9b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 25°. 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 11 inches of rain a year
August is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain falls on about 48 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at Tucson U Of A #1, AZ, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Tucson Mountains
29% of the work is heating, so air conditioning is the bigger bill. Months averaging under 55°: December and January.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Tucson U Of A #1, AZ.
Living with Tucson Mountains’ climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
293 frost-free days in zone 9b. The last frost comes by Feb 11 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Dec 2.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: February, March, April and November. 34 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Tucson Mountains from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (46%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 32%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Tucson Mountains and its neighbors
Every town next door is within a degree of Tucson Mountains in January and July, closer than the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Tucson Mountains’, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson Mountains, AZ | 39° | 101° | 11" | 0.0" |
| Hillcrest, CA | 40° | 100° | 10" | 0.1" |
| Summerlin South, NV | 35° | 102° | 5" | 0.2" |
| Washington, UT | 32° | 102° | 11" | 1.2" |
| Eagle Pass, TX | 41° | 98° | 19" | 0.0" |
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 Tucson Mountains averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.4°).
A smaller shift than in 51% 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 Tucson Mountains compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Tucson Mountains’ place among Arizona’s.
Tucson Mountains weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Tucson Mountains’ center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Tucson U Of A #1, AZ. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 67° | 39° | 0.9" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 49° – 58° |
| February | 70° | 42° | 1.1" | 0.0" | 5 | 0 | 50° – 61° |
| March | 76° | 46° | 0.6" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 55° – 67° |
| April | 83° | 52° | 0.3" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 61° – 73° |
| May | 92° | 60° | 0.3" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 71° – 80° |
| June | 102° | 70° | 0.2" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 81° – 89° |
| July | 101° | 75° | 1.8" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 85° – 91° |
| August | 100° | 74° | 2.3" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 84° – 92° |
| September | 96° | 69° | 1.2" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 78° – 85° |
| October | 87° | 57° | 0.6" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 69° – 77° |
| November | 76° | 46° | 0.7" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 52° – 68° |
| December | 66° | 39° | 1.1" | 0.0" | 5 | 0 | 48° – 57° |
| Year | 85° | 56° | 11.1" | 0.0" | 48 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. November swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 52° to 68°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where Tucson Mountains’ 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 Tucson Mountains’ center.
- Snow: Tucson U Of A #1, AZ.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Tucson U Of A #1, AZ, 5 miles from the town’s center, 120 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 Tucson Mountains’ climate
What is the weather like in Tucson Mountains?
A typical July afternoon reaches 101°, a January night drops to 39°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 87% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than all but 110 U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Tucson Mountains in winter?
December nights average 39°. About 21 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 48°.
How much snow does Tucson Mountains get?
About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at Tucson U Of A #1, AZ, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Tucson Mountains?
July, with a typical high of 101° and a low of 75°. About 167 days a year reach 90° and 80 reach 100° (Tucson U Of A #1, AZ).
When is the first and last frost in Tucson Mountains?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by February 11 and the first fall frost by December 2, about 293 frost-free days, at Tucson U Of A #1, AZ.
What growing zone is Tucson Mountains in?
Zone 9b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 25°.
What is the best time of year to visit Tucson Mountains?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), February, March, April and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Tucson Mountains getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.3° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 51% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Tucson Mountains.
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.