Tempe, Arizona Weather
Heat hardens the dust. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Tempe weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 3Clear——105°75°—
- ThursdayJun 4Partly Cloudy——107°70°+2°
- FridayJun 5Clear——106°73°-1°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——104°86°-2°
- SundayJun 7Overcast——104°85°0°
- MondayJun 8Overcast——104°83°0°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast——105°87°+1°
Ozone at AQI 70 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 70 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.
- Present
- AQI 70
- UV peak
- 1.4 at earlier today
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 70
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 8.3 µg/m³, PM10 at 67.8 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.12
- Wind
- light
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- background
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 5:40 AM
- Moonset
- 3:52 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Heat hardens the dust
Tempe at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 22°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 7 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, 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 Tempe's peak heat with temperatures averaging ~92°F, while December delivers the coldest conditions at ~53°F. Rainfall reaches its highest point in February (1.2 inches) and drops to nearly nothing in June (0.0 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 55° | 1.2″ | 2 |
| February | 57° | 1.2″ | 2 |
| March | 63° | 1.1″ | 1 |
| April | 70° | 0.3″ | 1 |
| May | 78° | 0.2″ | 0 |
| June | 87° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| July | 92° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| August | 92° | 1.0″ | 2 |
| September | 86° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| October | 75° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| November | 62° | 0.9″ | 1 |
| December | 53° | 0.8″ | 2 |
Regional context
Tempe belongs to a hot desert climate region — a group that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with neighboring cities.
Similar climates: Phoenix, AZ, Tucson, AZ, Mesa, AZ, Gilbert, AZ, Chandler, AZ.
Naturalist notes
Palo verde trees burst into golden bloom across Tempe during April and May.
Gambel's quail begin their distinctive three-note calls in late March as breeding season approaches.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Tempe?
- Spring's final frost typically occurs around mid-March in Tempe, while the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Tempe?
- February stands as the wettest month with about 1.2 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 9 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Tempe?
- July typically brings the hottest weather, averaging about 92°F.
- What is the coldest month in Tempe?
- December typically delivers the coldest temperatures, averaging about 53°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Tempe?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be planted around the last spring frost (mid-March); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Tempe get?
- Tempe averages about 18 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Tempe?
- Check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for Tempe's current hardiness zone designation, which reflects its lowest average winter temperature.
Climate
Tempe, Arizona sits in a hot desert climate zone. January temperatures hover near 55°F while July averages 92°F — a 38°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Tempe receives about 9 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 18 rainy days.
Geography shapes the city's weather patterns through its latitude (33.4°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — factors that determine what grows here, when frost strikes, and daily weather conditions.