Weather in Tucson, Arizona
Saguaro crowns open white. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Clear—94°63°
- SundayMay 17Clear—90°61°
- MondayMay 18Mostly Clear—85°56°
- TuesdayMay 19Overcast—87°62°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—89°68°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—90°68°
- FridayMay 22Clear—92°67°
- PM 2.5
- 2.2 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 4.1 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 0.4 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 121.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 3.3 Moderate
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 11:54 AM
- Moonset
- 1:29 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Saguaro crowns open white
Tucson at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 13°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: February 28 (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
July brings Tucson's warmest temperatures (~88°F mean) while December delivers the coldest (~53°F). Rainfall peaks in July (2.2 inches) and reaches its lowest point in May (0.2 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 54° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| February | 56° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| March | 62° | 0.6″ | 2 |
| April | 68° | 0.2″ | 1 |
| May | 77° | 0.2″ | 1 |
| June | 86° | 0.2″ | 1 |
| July | 88° | 2.2″ | 5 |
| August | 87° | 2.0″ | 4 |
| September | 83° | 1.3″ | 2 |
| October | 73° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| November | 62° | 0.6″ | 1 |
| December | 53° | 1.0″ | 3 |
Regional context
Tucson falls within a hot desert climate region — sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with nearby cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: Phoenix, AZ, Mesa, AZ, Gilbert, AZ, Chandler, AZ, Glendale, AZ.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the emergence of saguaro cactus blooms, their white flowers opening at night to attract bats and closing by afternoon heat.
Gambel's quail begin their evening calls from rocky perches as temperatures cool in May, their distinctive three-note whistle echoing across desert washes.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Tucson?
- Tucson's last spring frost typically falls around mid-March, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Tucson?
- July is the wettest month with about 2.2 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 11 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Tucson?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 88°F.
- What is the coldest month in Tucson?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 53°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Tucson?
- 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 Tucson get?
- Tucson averages about 25 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Tucson?
- Tucson'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
Tucson, Arizona sits in a hot desert climate zone. Temperatures hover near 54°F in January while July averages 88°F — a 35°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Tucson receives about 11 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 25 rainy days.
Latitude (32.2°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation set the rhythm of the year — shaping what grows here, when frost occurs, and the daily weather patterns.