Weather in Tucson Mountains, Arizona
Saguaro crowns open white. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Clear—95°66°
- SundayMay 17Clear—89°65°
- MondayMay 18Mostly Clear—85°61°
- TuesdayMay 19Overcast—88°67°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—90°72°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—91°72°
- FridayMay 22Clear—93°73°
- PM 2.5
- 2.9 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 8.2 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 0.2 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 120.0 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
- 1:30 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Saguaro crowns open white
Tucson Mountains at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 14°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 1 (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
Tucson Mountains's warmest month is July (~88°F mean) and its coldest is December (~53°F). Rainfall peaks in July (2.2 inches) and bottoms out 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 Mountains 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 Tucson Mountains?
- Tucson Mountains'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 Mountains?
- 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 Mountains?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 88°F.
- What is the coldest month in Tucson Mountains?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 53°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Tucson Mountains?
- 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 Mountains get?
- Tucson Mountains averages about 25 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Tucson Mountains?
- Tucson Mountains'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 Mountains, Arizona sits in a hot desert climate zone. January means hover near 54°F while July averages 88°F — a 35°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Tucson Mountains receives about 11 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 25 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (32.3°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.