Note regarding "Best Seasons"

Temperatures in Tucson are strongly affected by season, elevation, and time of day. The temperature difference between 5 am and 2 pm is almost always 20 to 30 degrees. The temperature difference between 2,500 ft. and 9,000 ft. is usually about 30 degrees. The difference between winter and summer is about 30 to 40 degrees.

Because temperature is affected by elevation, you can usually find temperatures in the high 60s to 70s within a hours drive of Tucson on any given day. In winter the lower elevations are in this range, and in the summer the highest elevations are in this range. This means that it is always perfect hiking weather somewhere in the Tucson area.

The humidity is very low in Tucson outside of the monsoon season (July-August), so temperatures feel about 15 degrees cooler than they would in high humidity areas like the midwest. 105 degrees in Tucson feels like 90 in Missouri. I find hiking comfortable up to the low 90s here. Like they say, "but its a dry heat!"

You probably don't want to hike when it is in the high 90s to 100s. It can be done, but you need to drink lots of water.

Tucson has more days of sunshine than any other city in America, so it is almost always sunny and clear.

Tucson gets about 12 to 15 inches of precipitation a year in the lower elevations, and about twice that in the highest elevations. Rain comes in two seasons: winter and late summer. The winter rains are of the gentle drizzle variety. In late summer the "monsoon" arrives when the prevailing winds shift to the southeast, bringing moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico. The monsoon is characterized by late afternoon thunderstorms that can be severe at times. In the higher elevations it is not unusual to get hail in the monsoon storms. Spring and fall are usually pretty free of rain.

Season	Above 8,000 ft.	4,000 to 8,000 ft.	Below 4,000 ft.
Winter (Late November thru February)	Usually many feet of snow, with highs in the 30s or lower, and lows in the teens or lower.	Occasional snow at the higher elevations Highs in the 40s to 50s Lows in the teens to 20s	Highs in the 40s to 60s Lows in the 30s to 40s
Early Spring (March-mid April)	Usually still lots of snow, with highs in the 30s or lower, and lows in the teens or lower.	Highs in the 40s to 60s Lows in the 20s to 30s	Highs in the 60s to 70s Lows in the 40s to 50s
Late Spring (Mid April-May)	Snow mostly gone, with highs in the low 70s or lower, and lows in the 30s or lower.	Highs in the 50s to 70s Lows in the 30s to 40s	Highs in the 80s to 90s Lows in the 60s to 70s
Summer (Late May thru Late September)	Highs in the 70s or lower, and lows in the 50s or lower.	Highs in the 80s to 90s Lows in the 50s to 70s	Highs in the low 100s Lows in the 70s to 80s
Fall (October-Late November)	Highs in the 60s or lower, and lows in the 30s or lower.	Highs in the 40s to 60s Lows in the 20s to 30s	Highs in the 70s to 80s Lows in the 50s to 60s

If you have any suggestions or comments please email them to AndyFlach@yahoo.com

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Last modified 31 January, 2001