Flagstaff Weather

Mid September to late November. Most fall days are sunny and warm with just a touch of crisp mountain air causing the leaves on the trees to change from green to gold. Aspen groves on the San Francisco peaks are a wonderful place to visit and enjoy the fall colors. Nights begin to feel very chilly and jackets are usually necessary after sunset. This is a wonderful time to spend time outdoors enjoying physical activities. It's warm enough to be outside, but cool enough the it's difficult to get overheated. The San Francisco Peaks, Lockett Meadow and Snowbowl Road get quite busy with fall leaf seekers.

Late November to mid March. Winter months in Flagstaff are usually very brisk with the average daytime temperature around 38 to 40°F. Jackets and layers are a necessity, especially when the snow begins to fall. Yes, snow! Luckily, even if a winter storm hits, the Arizona sunshine is bound to appear within a day or two and newly fallen snow will glisten under a beautiful bright blue sky. Many people make the mistake of thinking that an Arizona "winter" is not to be taken seriously. Flagstaff is at 7,000ft elevation with alpine conditions. In addition, the dry climate makes for bigger drops between day and evening temperatures. Fortunately, Flagstaff's temperatures do tend to not drop below 10°F very often or for very long, but that's certainly cooler than most people's preconceived notion about Arizona being only a desert.

Driving to and in Flagstaff during or just after a snowstorm will require extra precautions such as checking road conditions, bringing chains for your tires or have a 4WD or AWD vehicle. During and after snowstorms, Highway I-17 from Phoenix will likely have a car accident that will back up traffic for hours to half a day. Unfortunately, it's just always to be expected if you are on I-17 anytime after 8am, so check your traffic sources before you leave or be prepared to get stuck in traffic. The road up to Snowbowl Ski Resort will also have someone on staff checking for chains for 4WD for heading up Snowbowl Road. If you're not used to driving on snowy roads, please see our Winter Travel Tips page and be sure to check current traffic and road conditions before beginning your trip to Flagstaff in the winter.

Mid March to Late May. As the daily temperatures begin to rise, tulips and daffodils will speckle the town with their cheerful color. Days will usually be sunny; however, there is no such thing as a spring day without a chilly breeze. In fact, Snowbowl's resort conditions are consistently better in February and March than they are December through late January. Flagstaff gets great snow during the spring and is typically a wonderful time to enjoy skiing and snowboarding. Night temperatures still drop down to almost freezing which makes layering clothing a good idea, especially closer to the evening. In town, the weather is among sunniest, cool-weather climates you'll find in the county for this season and type of climate, with a fair amount of wind on any given day.

Late May to Mid September. There is almost no better place to experience summer in Arizona than in Flagstaff. Daily temperatures average in the mid-70s°F and nights are often enjoyed with a light sweater. Monsoons happen nearly every afternoon in late July and August. These intense rainstorms disappear as quickly as they arrive and leave the earth fresh and damp and glowing in the summer sun.

Flagstaff enjoys 161 sunny days per year, 101 partly cloudy days (40 - 70% cloud cover) and 103 cloudy days (80 - 100% cloud cover). Be sure to pack a brimmed hat, comfortable sturdy shoes, a camera and a high SPF sunscreen year-round. At Flagstaff's high elevation, UV rays are more intense and damaging, increasing your risk for skin and eye damage. Sun protection at high altitudes is a must.