Scottsdale, AZ Climate & Monthly Averages
Scottsdale has a semi-arid climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 106° by day; January is the coldest at 65°.
Scottsdale's climate runs on sunshine and sparse rain
With 11.6 inches (294 mm) of annual precipitation, Scottsdale is one of the drier places we cover. July is the wettest month it gets, at 1.8 inches (47 mm), and the year runs between 65°F (18°C) and 106°F (41°C) by day.
What the dry climate changes
At its warmest, in July, Scottsdale runs to 106°F (41°C) in the afternoon and back to 85°F (29°C) by dawn. January sits at the other end of the year: 65°F (18°C) by day, 43°F (6°C) at night. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 117°F (47°C) and bottoms at 28°F (-2°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. The wettest month is July (1.8 inches (47 mm) across 5 days) and the driest May.
Between the average July and the average January lie 23°C, a wider spread than roughly 76% of the cities we track. Five of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is November through March. Days and nights are about 13°C apart on average - wider than 96% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.
More climate facts for Scottsdale
- Hottest month: July - highs near 106°F (41°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 65°F (18°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 117°F (47°C) high · 28°F (-2°C) low
- Wettest month: July (5 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (13.2 h sun/day)
- Climate type: semi-arid
- Annual swing: 23°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 13°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 7
- Average humidity: 34%
Heat, cold and scarce precipitation in the dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.
When the dry weather is easiest to use
Avoiding the hardest heat or cold
The best time to visit Scottsdale is generally November to March, when temperatures sit either side of the peak heat rather than in it. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 71°F (22°C), with rain on about 4 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in November.
Prepare for sun and cooler nights
Pack for Scottsdale with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection. July nights average 85°F (29°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Monthly heat and rainfall table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 65° | 43° | 5 | 1.5 in | 8.5 h/day | 10.2 h | 15% | 54% |
| February | 70° | 46° | 4 | 1.3 in | 9.7 h/day | 10.9 h | 12% | 45% |
| March | 76° | 51° | 4 | 1.2 in | 10.6 h/day | 11.9 h | 13% | 37% |
| April | 86° | 60° | 1 | 0.2 in | 12.5 h/day | 13.0 h | 3% | 21% |
| May | 93° | 67° | 1 | 0.1 in | 12.9 h/day | 13.9 h | 3% | 19% |
| June | 104° | 79° | 1 | 0.2 in | 13.2 h/day | 14.4 h | 3% | 17% |
| July | 106° | 85° | 5 | 1.8 in | 12.1 h/day | 14.2 h | 16% | 31% |
| August | 104° | 83° | 5 | 1.4 in | 12.2 h/day | 13.4 h | 15% | 35% |
| September | 99° | 77° | 3 | 0.9 in | 11.4 h/day | 12.3 h | 9% | 32% |
| October | 89° | 64° | 2 | 0.9 in | 10.5 h/day | 11.3 h | 8% | 31% |
| November | 76° | 53° | 2 | 0.7 in | 9.4 h/day | 10.4 h | 5% | 35% |
| December | 66° | 45° | 4 | 1.2 in | 8.2 h/day | 9.9 h | 13% | 48% |
How daytime heat and cool nights change by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Scottsdale's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 8.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.2 h
February
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
March
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 12.5 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
May
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 12.9 h
- Daylight
- 13.9 h
June
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 13.2 h
- Daylight
- 14.4 h
July
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 12.1 h
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
August
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 12.2 h
- Daylight
- 13.4 h
September
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 11.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 10.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.3 h
November
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 9.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.4 h
December
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Scottsdale's coolest part of the year: January, December, February.
Heat and cold across the Scottsdale year
Spring (March through May)
Spring runs hot here - highs near 85°F (30°C), nights near 59°F (15°C), and precipitation is sparse, near 1.5 inches (38 mm) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 12.0 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Scottsdale is punishingly hot, with daytime highs averaging 105°F (40°C) and nights around 82°F (28°C); rain comes on about 10 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 12.5 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Scottsdale sits firmly in the heat: 88°F (31°C) by day, 65°F (18°C) after dark, and precipitation is sparse, near 2.6 inches (66 mm) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.4 hours of sun a day.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Scottsdale runs cool rather than cold, with daytime highs averaging 67°F (19°C) and nights around 45°F (7°C); rain comes on about 12 days over the three months.
How unusual is Scottsdale?
- Relative humidity averages 34% - drier than almost every other city we track.
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 35 days a year - fewer wet days than all but 5% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Annual precipitation is 11.6 inches (294 mm) - drier than all but 7% of the 3496 cities we track.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.