Weather in Rio Verde, Arizona
Saguaro crowns open white. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Clear—94°71°
- SundayMay 17Overcast—91°67°
- MondayMay 18Partly Cloudy—84°63°
- TuesdayMay 19Overcast—85°61°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—89°66°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—92°67°
- FridayMay 22Clear—94°66°
- PM 2.5
- 11.0 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 88.0 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 0.7 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 120.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 1.4 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 12:41 PM
- Moonset
- 2:50 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Saguaro crowns open white
Rio Verde at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 14°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 17, 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
Rio Verde's warmest month is July (~88°F mean) and its coldest is December (~53°F). Rainfall peaks in February (1.7 inches) and bottoms out in June (0.1 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53° | 1.5″ | 5 |
| February | 55° | 1.7″ | 6 |
| March | 60° | 1.5″ | 5 |
| April | 66° | 0.5″ | 2 |
| May | 74° | 0.3″ | 1 |
| June | 84° | 0.1″ | 1 |
| July | 88° | 1.0″ | 3 |
| August | 87° | 1.3″ | 4 |
| September | 82° | 0.8″ | 3 |
| October | 72° | 0.9″ | 3 |
| November | 61° | 0.8″ | 3 |
| December | 53° | 1.4″ | 5 |
Regional context
Rio Verde 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 Rio Verde?
- Rio Verde's last spring frost typically falls around mid-March, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Rio Verde?
- February is the wettest month with about 1.7 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 12 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Rio Verde?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 88°F.
- What is the coldest month in Rio Verde?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 53°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Rio Verde?
- 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 Rio Verde get?
- Rio Verde averages about 41 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Rio Verde?
- Rio Verde'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
Rio Verde, Arizona sits in a hot desert climate zone. January means hover near 53°F while July averages 88°F — a 35°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Rio Verde receives about 12 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 41 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.