A mile-high mountain climate in central Arizona. Cooler than Phoenix in summer, mild and sunny most of the year, with a real monsoon season and occasional winter snow. Below: today’s live forecast, monthly averages, and the best windows to visit.
Daily highs, lows, rainfall, and snowfall by month, drawn from public NOAA climate normals for Prescott, Arizona. Actuals vary year to year, especially in monsoon and winter months.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 22°F | 1.4″ | 5.0″ |
| Feb | 54°F | 24°F | 1.5″ | 4.6″ |
| Mar | 59°F | 27°F | 1.6″ | 3.5″ |
| Apr | 66°F | 32°F | 0.6″ | 0.7″ |
| May | 75°F | 40°F | 0.4″ | - |
| Jun | 86°F | 49°F | 0.4″ | - |
| Jul | 89°F | 57°F | 3.0″ | - |
| Aug | 86°F | 56°F | 3.1″ | - |
| Sep | 80°F | 48°F | 1.7″ | - |
| Oct | 71°F | 38°F | 1.2″ | - |
| Nov | 59°F | 29°F | 1.2″ | 1.2″ |
| Dec | 51°F | 23°F | 1.6″ | 6.7″ |
June, July, and August run highs in the mid-80s with overnight lows in the 50s. Mornings are clear and bright; afternoons can build into thunderstorms from the Bradshaw Mountains. Plan trail and lake mornings, save Whiskey Row, the Courthouse Plaza, and shopping for the afternoon storm window.
September and October are the most reliable visit window. Highs drop into the 70s, monsoon humidity clears, and aspens around Mingus and the high country turn gold. Watson Lake and Granite Dells trails are at their best in this window, and downtown stays open late on weekends.
December through February: daytime highs in the low 50s, overnight lows in the 20s. Snow events typically drop a few inches and clear within a day or two on plowed roads. Christmas weekends bring the Courthouse Lighting and the Christmas in the Pines parade, which is when Prescott looks most like a postcard.
Prescott sits at 5,367 feet of elevation, about a mile higher than Phoenix at 1,086 feet. Average summer highs run roughly 20 to 25 degrees cooler than Phoenix on the same day, with overnight lows often 25 to 30 degrees cooler. The exact gap varies, but it is the reason families have driven up from the Valley to escape the heat for over a hundred years.
Yes, Prescott averages about 22 inches of snow a year, mostly between November and March. Storms typically dump a few inches and melt within a day or two on plowed roads, while Granite Dells and the Bradshaw Mountains hold snow longer. Most winter days stay sunny and dry between storms, with daytime highs in the 50s.
Monsoon season runs from roughly mid-June through mid-September. Afternoon thunderstorms build over the Bradshaw Mountains and the Granite Dells, deliver heavy short bursts of rain, and clear into bright evening skies. Mornings are usually clear, so plan hikes and lake time before noon and save downtown for the afternoon.
Late spring (May to early June) and fall (September to October) are the most reliably mild visit windows, with daytime highs in the 70s and clear skies. Summer is busy and warm but still much cooler than Phoenix, with afternoon monsoon storms. Christmas weekends are festive but can be cold and snowy. Frontier Days at the end of June is the busiest stretch of the year.
Prescott averages about 277 sunny days a year, well above the U.S. average of 205. The semi-arid climate means most days are clear or partly cloudy, even in winter. The big exceptions are monsoon afternoons (June through September) and the occasional winter storm.
The official elevation of downtown Prescott is 5,367 feet above sea level. Prescott Valley sits a few hundred feet lower, and the surrounding Bradshaw Mountains rise above 7,000 feet. Visitors coming from sea level should expect noticeably cooler temperatures and lighter air on hikes for the first day or two.
Live forecast data: Open-Meteo (open-meteo.com), refreshed on page load. Climate normals: NOAA. Numbers are averages, not guarantees.
