AI-generatedPhoenix at a glance
- Best time
- Nov – Apr
- Warmest month
- Jul · 41°
- Sunshine a year
- 3,350 h
- Rain a year
- 198 mm
- Climate
- Hot desert
- Time zone
- UTC−7
- Elevation
- 331 m
Climate in Phoenix
Phoenix has a hot desert climate with sunshine almost every day and hardly any rain. July is the warmest month with average highs of 41 °C, while December is the coolest at 18 °C. With around 3,350 hours of sunshine a year, Phoenix is very sunny; June is the sunniest month with 12.3 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: November – April
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 21°
- Midday, 13:00: about 31°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 30°
- Evening, 20:00: about 23°
- Night, 23:00: about 21°
06:3217:56
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:16–07:05 · evening 17:23–18:11
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:07–06:16 · evening 18:11–18:21
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Phoenix in October?
In October, Phoenix is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Phoenix.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 24 min06:32 – 17:56
- UV index
- 6 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 13 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 19 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 19 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−7America/Phoenix
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %51 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %97 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %100 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
Sunshine hours in Phoenix
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 8.8 of 11.4 hours of daylight in Phoenix, 77 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Phoenix
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 6 · highSeek shade around midday; sunscreen SPF 30+, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 11).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 25 min
- Fair skin
- about 30 min
- Light brown skin
- about 40 min
- Olive skin
- about 50 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Phoenix: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Phoenix has about 2 rainy days with 18 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Phoenix
How breezy and how cloudy Phoenix is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Phoenix typically peaks at 13 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 19 % of the sky over Phoenix: mostly clear, with about 8.8 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Phoenix
How often the day gets hot in Phoenix (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Phoenix has about 19 hot days, with an average daytime high of 31 °C: often hot. Avoid the midday sun, look for shade and drink plenty.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Phoenix
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Hot 24° and more
PleasantOctober: nights around 16°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open.
The coolest nights are in January (5°), the warmest in July (29°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from June to September; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in May and in October. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from December to February, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 93 | 19° | 5° | 7.0 h | 3 | 23 |
| FebruaryFeb | 95 | 21° | 6° | 7.5 h | 4 | 26 |
| MarchMar | 100 | 25° | 10° | 8.9 h | 2 | 19 |
| AprilApr | 86 | 29° | 14° | 10.6 h | 1 | 6 |
| MayMay | 54 | 34° | 19° | 11.7 h | 1 | 3 |
| JuneJun | 50 | 40° | 25° | 12.3 h | 0 | 2 |
| JulyJul | 50 | 41° | 29° | 10.1 h | 3 | 20 |
| AugustAug | 50 | 40° | 28° | 9.6 h | 4 | 22 |
| SeptemberSep | 50 | 37° | 24° | 9.4 h | 3 | 24 |
| OctoberOct | 75 | 31° | 16° | 8.8 h | 2 | 18 |
| NovemberNov | 95 | 24° | 10° | 7.5 h | 2 | 15 |
| DecemberDec | 92 | 18° | 5° | 6.5 h | 3 | 21 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
33.45° N, 112.07° W · 331 m · America/Phoenix
Best time to visit Phoenix
The best time to visit Phoenix is from November to April. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from November to March. From May to September it can get very hot, with highs of up to 41 °C. The wettest month is February with 26 mm of precipitation.
Phoenix through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Phoenix in spring
Mar – May
Excellent
- 25–34 °C by day
- 10 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days in all
Phoenix in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 40–41 °C by day
- 11 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days in all
Phoenix in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 24–37 °C by day
- 9 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days in all
Phoenix in winter
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 18–21 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Phoenix for you.
Your best months: February – March, November
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Phoenix
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
March has the better holiday weather in Phoenix: score 100 against 75. In March, days are 6 °C cooler than in October.
| Month | October | March |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 75 | 100better |
| Day high | 31° | 25° |
| Night low | 16° | 10° |
| Sunshine | 8.8 h | 8.9 h |
| Rainy days | 2 | 2 |
| Rainfall | 18 mm | 19 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Nov – Mar
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Peak heat
May – Sep
Highs of 33 °C or more
Phoenix month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
93January19° · 7 h
In January, Phoenix is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 23 mm in total. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in January95February21° · 8 h
In February, Phoenix is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 26 mm in total. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in February100March25° · 9 h
In March, Phoenix is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 19 mm in total. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in March86April29° · 11 h
In April, Phoenix is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 15 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in April54May34° · 12 h
In May, Phoenix is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. With around 12 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 26 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in May50June40° · 12 h
In June, Phoenix is very hot: daytime highs average 40 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. With around 12 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in June50July41° · 10 h
In July, Phoenix is very hot: daytime highs average 41 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 29 °C. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 20 mm in total. On about 31 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in July50August40° · 10 h
In August, Phoenix is very hot: daytime highs average 40 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 28 °C. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 22 mm in total. On about 31 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in August50September37° · 9 h
In September, Phoenix is very hot: daytime highs average 37 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 24 mm in total. On about 29 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in September75October31° · 9 h
In October, Phoenix is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in October95November24° · 8 h
In November, Phoenix is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in November92December18° · 7 h
In December, Phoenix is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 21 mm in total. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Phoenix.
Phoenix in DecemberPhoenix compared
Put Phoenix side by side with another destination.
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Phoenix vs. Scottsdale
In October the holiday weather in Phoenix and Scottsdale is about equally good (score 75 vs. 77). During the day it is about as warm in Scottsdale as in Phoenix.
| in October | Phoenix | Scottsdale |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 75 | 77 |
| Daytime high | 31° | 31° |
| Sunshine | 9 h | 9 h |
| Rainy days | 2 | 2 |
| Best time | Nov – Apr | Nov – Apr |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Phoenix ranks 22 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Las Vegas26°99
- 2Long Beach25°19°98
- 3Los Angeles26°19°98
- 4Mariposa (Yosemite)23°98
- 5Sedona23°97
- 6El Paso26°97
- 7Page (Lake Powell)21°96
- 8Moab21°95
- 22PhoenixThis page31°75
Planning a trip to Phoenix
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Phoenix in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Phoenix has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 93) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 50).
- 90
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Excellent
- 28 °C by day
- 10.1 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day a month
- 53
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 36 °C by day
- 11.8 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat
- 50
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 40 °C by day
- 9.8 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat
- 75
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 31 °C by day
- 8.8 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
- 93
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
ExcellentBest holidays
- 19 °C by day
- 6.8 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 10 h 40 min
- Distance
- 8,470 km
- Time zone
- UTC−7
- Jet lag
- About 5 days (8 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Phoenix
When is the best time to visit Phoenix?
The best time to visit Phoenix is from November to April. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Phoenix?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 41 °C and nights around 29 °C. December is the coolest month at 18 °C.
When does it rain most in Phoenix?
The wettest month is February with 26 mm of precipitation. The driest month is June with 2 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Phoenix get?
Phoenix gets around 3,350 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 12.3 hours a day; in December there are 6.5 hours a day.
What time zone is Phoenix in?
Phoenix uses the time zone America/Phoenix, at UTC−7 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Phoenix?
A nonstop flight from London to Phoenix takes about 10 h 40 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,470 km.
Which school holidays are best for Phoenix?
Phoenix has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 93) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 50). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 90, May half-term 53, Summer holidays 50, October half-term 75, Christmas holidays 93.
Near Phoenix
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Phoenix
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Phoenix's – good alternatives.