January in Phoenix: strong conditions, 6th of 12
Good · 7.9/10January averages 11°C (51°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Expect 33 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 9 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10 daylight hours.
It scores 7.9/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.
Flexible dates? March scores 1.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
February in Phoenix — one of the year's strongest windows (3rd)
Best window · 8.7/10February averages 12°C (54°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Expect 34 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 16 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.8 daylight hours.
A 8.7/10 puts this among the year's best months in Phoenix (3rd of 12); only March scores higher, at 9.6/10.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
March: the best month of the year in Phoenix
Best window · 9.6/10Temperatures hover around 16°C (60°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
With around 41 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.8 hours of daylight fill the rest.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Phoenix at 9.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Budget for peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
April in Phoenix — one of the year's strongest windows (2nd)
Best window · 9.6/10April averages 21°C (70°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rain is a non-issue at 2 mm for the month, with about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.8 hours of daylight to work with.
A 9.6/10 puts this among the year's best months in Phoenix (2nd of 12); only March scores higher, at 9.6/10.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.
May holds up well in Phoenix — 8th best month
Good · 7.5/10Days in May average 26°C (79°F) — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
At just 2 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.7 hours of daylight.
That is 7.5/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 9.6/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
If your dates are flexible, March is materially better in Phoenix — 2.1 points higher on the same scale.
June in Phoenix — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 5.8/10June averages 32°C (90°F) — genuinely punishing heat. Anything outdoors needs to happen before 10am.
Rain is a non-issue at 7 mm for the month, with about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.2 hours of daylight to work with.
It scores 5.8/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
Flexible dates? March scores 3.8 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
July in Phoenix: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6/10July averages 36°C (96°F) — genuinely punishing heat. Anything outdoors needs to happen before 10am.
Expect 24 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14 daylight hours.
It scores 6/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
Flexible dates? March scores 3.6 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
August in Phoenix — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.2/10At 34°C (93°F), August is at its most extreme: early starts are not optional, and afternoons belong indoors.
With around 36 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.2 hours of daylight fill the rest.
That is 6.2/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 9.6/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
If your dates are flexible, March is materially better in Phoenix — 3.4 points higher on the same scale.
September in Phoenix: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6/10Days in September average 31°C (88°F) — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
With around 17 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.2 hours of daylight fill the rest.
That is 6/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 9.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
If your dates are flexible, March is materially better in Phoenix — 3.6 points higher on the same scale.
October holds up well in Phoenix — 7th best month
Good · 7.9/10October averages 25°C (77°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rain is a non-issue at 12 mm for the month, with about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.1 hours of daylight to work with.
It scores 7.9/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.
Flexible dates? March scores 1.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
November is one of the strongest months in Phoenix (4th)
Best window · 8.7/10November averages 16°C (60°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rain is a non-issue at 9 mm for the month, with about 12 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.2 hours of daylight to work with.
A 8.7/10 puts this among the year's best months in Phoenix (4th of 12); only March scores higher, at 9.6/10.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
December holds up well in Phoenix — 5th best month
Good · 8.2/10Temperatures hover around 13°C (56°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
With around 29 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 6 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.8 hours of daylight fill the rest.
That is 8.2/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 9.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for peak pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
