Surprise, Arizona Weather
Heat hardens the dust. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Surprise weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Clear——105°75°—
- FridayJun 5Clear——104°72°-1°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——102°72°-2°
- SundayJun 7Overcast——101°71°-1°
- MondayJun 8Overcast——99°68°-2°
- TuesdayJun 9Partly Cloudy——102°66°+3°
- WednesdayJun 10Clear——93°63°-9°
Ozone at AQI 66 now. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). With UV 9.9 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 87 by mid-afternoon.
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 66 now. With UV 9.9 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 87 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 66
- UV peak
- 9.9 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 87
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 8.7 µg/m³, PM10 at 67.5 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.13
- Wind
- calm
- 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
- 5:42 AM
- Moonset
- 3:54 PM
- In sign
- ♒︎ Aquarius
Heat hardens the dust
Surprise at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 22°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 9 (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 Surprise's warmest temperatures (~91°F mean) while December delivers the coldest (~52°F). February sees peak rainfall at 1.4 inches, and June marks the driest period with just 0.1 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 52° | 1.4″ | 2 |
| February | 55° | 1.4″ | 3 |
| March | 60° | 1.0″ | 1 |
| April | 66° | 0.3″ | 1 |
| May | 76° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| June | 86° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| July | 91° | 0.9″ | 3 |
| August | 90° | 1.1″ | 3 |
| September | 84° | 1.1″ | 2 |
| October | 72° | 0.7″ | 1 |
| November | 60° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| December | 52° | 0.9″ | 2 |
Regional context
Surprise belongs to a hot desert climate region that extends across nearby cities. This climate zone shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions.
Similar climates: Phoenix, AZ, Tucson, AZ, Mesa, AZ, Gilbert, AZ, Chandler, AZ.
Naturalist notes
Palo verde trees burst into yellow bloom across Surprise during April, their bright flowers appearing before the desert heat peaks.
House finches begin their second nesting cycle in May, taking advantage of moderate temperatures before summer's intensity.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Surprise?
- The last spring frost in Surprise typically occurs around mid-March, while the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Surprise?
- February ranks as the wettest month with about 1.4 inches of rain on average, contributing to the city's roughly 10 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Surprise?
- July typically brings the warmest weather, averaging about 91°F.
- What is the coldest month in Surprise?
- December typically delivers the coldest temperatures, averaging about 52°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Surprise?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-March, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Surprise get?
- Surprise averages about 19 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Surprise?
- Check the USDA's online lookup using the city ZIP code for Surprise's current hardiness zone designation, which reflects the lowest average winter temperature.
Climate
Surprise, Arizona experiences a hot desert climate. January temperatures hover near 52°F while July averages 91°F — a 39°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Surprise receives about 10 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 19 rainy days.
Weather patterns follow the city's latitude (33.7°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what grows here, when frost occurs, and daily weather conditions.