Tucson, AZ Climate & Monthly Averages

Arizona, United States 🇺🇸 · semi-arid climate
Annual avg
71°
Hottest month
July
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
45
Sunshine
11.0 h/day
Right now: 95° and sunny - see live conditions

The climate of Tucson

Weather in Tucson follows a semi-arid pattern. The warmest and coolest months, July and January, average 100°F (38°C) and 64°F (18°C) by day; nights in those months run 78°F (26°C) and 41°F (5°C).

Climate quick facts

  • Hottest month: July - highs near 100°F (38°C)
  • Coldest month: January - highs near 64°F (18°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 113°F (45°C) high · 26°F (-3°C) low
  • Wettest month: July (8 rainy days) · Sunniest: May (12.9 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: semi-arid
  • Annual swing: 21°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 14°C
  • Snow: about 1 days a year
  • Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 6
  • Average humidity: 36%

Temperatures through the year

Warmth peaks in July: highs of 100°F (38°C), lows of 78°F (26°C). January bottoms out at 64°F (18°C) in daylight, 41°F (5°C) after dark. Snowfall is rare but not unheard of.

Rain, sun and snow

5 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running April through June. Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 6 months of the year, May through October being the unbroken run. Four of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is February through March. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 113°F (45°C) and bottoms at 26°F (-3°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.

How Tucson compares

  • Afternoons run 14°C above the following night - a bigger day-to-night gap than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
  • Relative humidity averages 36% - drier than almost every other city we track.
  • The city sees 11.0 hours of sunshine on an average day - sunnier than 95% of the 3496 cities we track.

Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.

Monthly climate table

Monthly averages for Tucson based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 64° 41° 5 1.8 in 9.0 h/day 53%
February 68° 43° 4 1.4 in 9.8 h/day 44%
March 75° 49° 4 1.2 in 10.6 h/day 36%
April 84° 56° 1 0.2 in 12.5 h/day 22%
May 91° 63° 1 0.1 in 12.9 h/day 20%
June 101° 74° 2 0.3 in 12.9 h/day 20%
July 100° 78° 8 2.0 in 11.8 h/day 39%
August 98° 76° 6 1.6 in 11.9 h/day 44%
September 94° 71° 5 1.9 in 11.3 h/day 40%
October 87° 61° 3 0.6 in 10.7 h/day 34%
November 75° 50° 3 0.7 in 9.5 h/day 38%
December 66° 43° 5 1.4 in 8.7 h/day 48%

Tucson month by month

Tucson weather in January

January brings highs around 64°F (18°C), lows near 41°F (5°C), about 5 wet days - typically the coldest month of the year in Tucson.

Tucson weather in February

February brings highs around 68°F (20°C), lows near 43°F (6°C), about 4 wet days.

Tucson weather in March

March brings highs around 75°F (24°C), lows near 49°F (9°C), about 4 wet days.

Tucson weather in April

April brings highs around 84°F (29°C), lows near 56°F (13°C), about 1 wet days.

Tucson weather in May

May brings highs around 91°F (33°C), lows near 63°F (17°C), about 1 wet days - typically the driest month and the sunniest month of the year in Tucson.

Tucson weather in June

June brings highs around 101°F (38°C), lows near 74°F (24°C), about 2 wet days.

Tucson weather in July

July brings highs around 100°F (38°C), lows near 78°F (26°C), about 8 wet days - typically the hottest month and the wettest month of the year in Tucson.

Tucson weather in August

August brings highs around 98°F (36°C), lows near 76°F (25°C), about 6 wet days.

Tucson weather in September

September brings highs around 94°F (35°C), lows near 71°F (22°C), about 5 wet days.

Tucson weather in October

October brings highs around 87°F (30°C), lows near 61°F (16°C), about 3 wet days.

Tucson weather in November

November brings highs around 75°F (24°C), lows near 50°F (10°C), about 3 wet days.

Tucson weather in December

December brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 43°F (6°C), about 5 wet days.

Seasons in Tucson

Spring (March through May)

Through spring, Tucson brings hot afternoons: 83°F (28°C) by day, 56°F (13°C) after dark, 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)

Through summer, Tucson runs at full heat: 100°F (38°C) by day, 76°F (25°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 15 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 12.2 hours of sun a day.

Fall (September through November)

Fall in Tucson is hot, with daytime highs averaging 85°F (30°C) and nights around 61°F (16°C); rain comes on about 10 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 10.5 hours of sun a day.

Winter (December through February)

Winter in Tucson stays on the cool side of mild, with daytime highs averaging 66°F (19°C) and nights around 42°F (6°C); rain comes on about 14 days over the three months.

Climate questions, answered

What should I wear in Tucson?
It depends on the month: July runs to 100°F (38°C) while January holds at 64°F (18°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.
Which months are driest in Tucson?
5 months average under 20 mm of rain, with May the driest at 3 mm (0.1 in).
Is Tucson cold in winter?
January nights average 41°F (5°C). Chilly rather than harsh - hard freezes are uncommon.
Are nights cold in Tucson?
By about 14°C on an average day - a wider day-to-night gap than most of the 3496 cities we track. In July that means 100°F (38°C) down to 78°F (26°C).
Is Tucson humid?
Relative humidity averages 36% across the year, which reads as dry. The most comfortable stretch falls in the drier half of the year.
How sunny is Tucson?
11.0 hours a day averaged over the year, peaking in May at 12.9 hours.

Best time to visit Tucson

The best time to visit Tucson is generally November to April, when temperatures sit either side of the peak heat rather than in it. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 72°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.

Pack for Tucson with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection. Note the gap between afternoon and night: July pairs 100°F (38°C) with 78°F (26°C).

Tucson temperature records (2015-2024)

Highest recorded
113°
in June
Lowest recorded
26°
in December
Annual precipitation
13.3"
Snowy days / yr
1

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.