Weather in Sun City West, Arizona
Saguaro crowns open white. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Clear—95°74°
- SundayMay 17Overcast—90°67°
- MondayMay 18Overcast—87°63°
- TuesdayMay 19Overcast—88°63°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—92°69°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—94°68°
- FridayMay 22Clear—96°69°
- PM 2.5
- 19.6 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 173.7 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 0.6 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 115.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 3.1 Moderate
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 11:56 AM
- Moonset
- 1:39 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Saguaro crowns open white
Sun City West at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 16°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 9 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of May 16, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Sun City West's warmest month is July (~91°F mean) and its coldest is December (~52°F). Rainfall peaks in February (1.4 inches) and bottoms out in June (0.1 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 52° | 1.4″ | 2 |
| February | 55° | 1.4″ | 3 |
| March | 60° | 1.0″ | 1 |
| April | 66° | 0.3″ | 1 |
| May | 76° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| June | 86° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| July | 91° | 0.9″ | 3 |
| August | 90° | 1.1″ | 3 |
| September | 84° | 1.1″ | 2 |
| October | 72° | 0.7″ | 1 |
| November | 60° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| December | 52° | 0.9″ | 2 |
Regional context
Sun City West sits within a hot desert climate region — a cohort that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: Phoenix, AZ, Tucson, AZ, Mesa, AZ, Gilbert, AZ, Chandler, AZ.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Sun City West?
- Sun City West's last spring frost typically falls around mid-March, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Sun City West?
- February is the wettest month with about 1.4 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 10 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Sun City West?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 91°F.
- What is the coldest month in Sun City West?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 52°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Sun City West?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-March); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Sun City West get?
- Sun City West averages about 19 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Sun City West?
- Sun City West's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Sun City West, Arizona sits in a hot desert climate zone. January means hover near 52°F while July averages 91°F — a 39°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Sun City West receives about 10 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 19 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (33.7°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.