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CLIMATE The weather during our annual gem shows is usually delightful with an average high around 75 °F (23 °C). Visitors coming from Europe and northern latitudes find it a wonderful place to spend part of the winter. Evenings can be cool, and there may be occasional rain, but bring shorts, sandals and a swimsuit. Tucson has two major seasons, summer and
winter; plus three minor seasons: fall, spring, and the monsoon. Fall lasts from late October to November or December. It is much like summer, and similarly dry, with days above 100 degrees typical into early October. Average daytime highs of 84 °F (28 °C), with overnight lows of 55 °F (13 °C), constitute typical fall weather. Winters in Tucson are mild relative to other parts of the United States. Daytime highs in the winter range between 64 °F and 75 °F (18-23 °C) , with overnight lows between 30 °F and 44 °F (-1 –7 °C). Although rare, snow has been known to fall in Tucson, usually a light dusting that melts within a day. Spring begins in late February or March, and is characterized by rising temperatures and several weeks of vivid wildflower blooms. Daytime average highs range from 72 °F (23 °C) in March to 88 °F (31 °C) in May with average overnight lows in March of 45 °F (7 °C) and in May of 59 °F (15 °C). For current Tucson weather information we recommend visiting the Weather Underground. Please see our Tucson Restaurant Guide, Tucson Bars and Nightlife Guide, and our Day trips from Tucson for some fun tips on what to do if you take some time off from the gem shows. |
The monsoon can begin any time from mid-June to late July, with an average
start date around July 3. It typically continues through August and sometimes
into September. During the monsoon, the humidity is much higher than the
rest of the year. It begins with clouds building up from the south in
the early afternoon followed by intense thunderstorms and rainfall, which
can cause flash floods. The evening sky at this time of year is often
pierced with dramatic lightning strikes. Large areas of the city do not
have storm sewers, so monsoon rains flood the main thoroughfares, usually
for no longer than a few hours. A few underpasses in Tucson have "feet
of water" scales painted on their supports to discourage fording
by automobiles during a rainstorm. Arizona traffic code Title 28-910,
the so-called "Stupid Motorist Law," was instituted in 1995
to discourage people from entering flooded roadways. If the road is flooded
and a barricade is in place, motorists who drive around the barricade
can be charged up to $2000 for costs involved in rescuing them.