Climateby Month

Denver vs Phoenix weather

Denver, CO and Phoenix, AZ · 586 mi apart

July highs: 90°F in Denver, 107°F in Phoenix (Phoenix is 17°F warmer). January highs: 47°F and 68°F (Phoenix is 21°F warmer). Denver has about 84 wet days a year, Phoenix about 33. Muggy days: almost none in Denver, about 12 in Phoenix. Snow: 49.0 in a year in Denver, 0.0 in in Phoenix.

Denver, CO

0°20°40°60°80°100°120° January: normal high 47°F (8°C), low 18°F (-8°C) February: normal high 48°F (9°C), low 19°F (-7°C) March: normal high 56°F (13°C), low 27°F (-3°C) April: normal high 63°F (17°C), low 34°F (1°C) May: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 43°F (6°C) June: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 53°F (12°C) July: normal high 90°F (32°C), low 59°F (15°C) 90° 59° August: normal high 88°F (31°C), low 57°F (14°C) September: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 48°F (9°C) October: normal high 67°F (19°C), low 36°F (2°C) November: normal high 55°F (13°C), low 26°F (-3°C) December: normal high 46°F (8°C), low 18°F (-8°C) 46° 18° JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May

Phoenix, AZ

0°20°40°60°80°100°120° January: normal high 68°F (20°C), low 46°F (8°C) February: normal high 71°F (22°C), low 49°F (9°C) March: normal high 78°F (26°C), low 55°F (13°C) April: normal high 86°F (30°C), low 61°F (16°C) May: normal high 95°F (35°C), low 70°F (21°C) June: normal high 104°F (40°C), low 79°F (26°C) July: normal high 107°F (42°C), low 85°F (29°C) 107° 85° August: normal high 105°F (41°C), low 84°F (29°C) September: normal high 100°F (38°C), low 78°F (26°C) October: normal high 89°F (32°C), low 66°F (19°C) November: normal high 77°F (25°C), low 54°F (12°C) December: normal high 66°F (19°C), low 45°F (7°C) 66° 45° JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: January, February

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Phoenix (January high 68°F vs January high 47°F)
  • Cooler summers: Denver (July high 90°F vs July high 107°F)
  • Fewer wet days: Phoenix (33 a year vs 84 a year)
  • Less humid: Denver (0 muggy days vs 12 muggy days)
  • Less snow: Phoenix (0.0 in vs 49.0 in)
  • More comfortable days: Phoenix (104 a year vs 92 a year)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high DenverAvg high PhoenixWet days DenverWet days Phoenix
Winter (Dec-Feb)47°F68°F1512
Spring (Mar-May)64°F86°F266
Summer (Jun-Aug)87°F105°F269
Fall (Sep-Nov)67°F89°F177

Side by side over a year

DenverPhoenix
Hot days (90°F+)42173
Freezing nights1561
Muggy days012
Comfortable days92104
Precipitation15.4 in7.2 in
Snowfall49.0 in0.0 in
Frost dateslast May 4, first Oct 8frost in about 18% of years
Daylight in June / December14.9 h / 9.4 h14.3 h / 10.0 h
Best monthsMayJanuary, February

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh DenverHigh PhoenixWet days DenverWet days Phoenix
January47°F68°F54
February48°F71°F54
March56°F78°F73
April63°F86°F82
May72°F95°F111
June84°F104°F81
July90°F107°F94
August88°F105°F95
September80°F100°F63
October67°F89°F52
November55°F77°F62
December46°F66°F54

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Denver, CO: temperature from Denver-Stapleton (USW00023062), 6.3 mi ENE of the city center; precipitation from Denver-Stapleton (USW00023062). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Phoenix, AZ: temperature from Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport (USW00023183), 4.3 mi ESE of the city center; precipitation from Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport (USW00023183). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.