Table of Contents
What is the weather like in the Southwest desert?
The daily range between maximum and minimum temperatures sometimes runs as much as 50 to 60 degrees F during the drier periods of the year. During winter months, daytime temperatures may average 70 degrees F, with night temperatures often falling to freezing of slightly below in the lower desert valleys.”
How hot is the Southwest?
The Southwest’s overall average high temperature of 19.2°C (66.6°F) and average low of 2.8°C (37.0°F) are indicative of a varied climate, one much less uniform than that found in many other parts of the United States.
What is the hottest temperature in the Southwest?
Phoenix has hit 118° eleven times, most recently on June 19, 2016, which stands as the hottest temperature ever measured so early in the summer….All-Time Extreme Heat Expected in Southwest U.S.
| City | Predicted Peak Temperature | All-time Hottest Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 120° | 122° (Jun. 26, 1990) |
| Las Vegas, NV | 117° | 117° (most recently on Jun. 30, 2013) |
How cold is the Arizona desert at night?
Arizona Climate The southwestern desert is hot, with winter daytime temperatures in the lower 60s and summer daytime temperatures between 105 and 115 F. Nighttime temperatures on the desert drop slightly below freezing in the winter, while elsewhere in the state, winter nights frequently drop into the 20s.
Why does the Southwest get so hot?
The scorching heat wave results from a ridge of high pressure settled in over the Southwest, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). High-pressure systems prevent clouds and winds from entering the region they cover, letting the sun sear the atmosphere and ground.
What is the average summer temperature in the Southwest region?
Summer temperatures on the South Rim, at 7000 feet (2134 meters), are especially pleasant from 50° to about 85° F (10°s to 20°s C). The inner canyon temperatures are extreme and hot, with a lower elevation of about 2400 feet (732 meters).
Does the Southwest get cold?
That explains why the desert is known for rapid temperature swings — hot days and cold nights — while coastal areas are noted for their moderate climates, with day and nighttime temperatures closer together, he said. The cold air in the Southwest has been relatively stationary over the past few days.
What is the summer like in the Southwest?
All of the high country of the Southwest can get large quantities of snow in the winter and nice cooling thunder showers in the summer, yet we average over 348 days with the sun shining. The average high daytime summer temperature at the south rim of the Grand Canyon is about 76 degrees.
What kind of climate does the southwest have?
The American Southwest might evoke images of a hot, dry landscape—a land of rock, canyons, and deserts baked by the sun. Indeed, much of this region has low annual rainfall and seasonally high temperatures that contribute to its characteristic desert climate.
Where is the southwest Long Range Weather Region?
The Desert Southwest long range weather region includes all or part of the following states: ARIZONA (Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson), CALIFORNIA (Brawley, Calexico, Coachella, El Centro, Indio), COLORADO (Cortez, Dolores, Durango, Mancos, Towaoc), NEVADA (Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Pahrump, Winchester), NEW MEXICO (
How much precipitation does the Chihuahuan Desert get?
The average precipitation that falls on the deserts, the plateau, and the plains differs as well. The Sonoran Desert receives 3 to 20 inches annually, and the Chihuahuan Desert receives 6 to 20 inches annually, while the Colorado Plateau receives 10 to 35 inches in a year.
How is the drought measured in the southwest?
Figures 2 and 3 show two ways of measuring drought in the Southwest: the Drought Monitor and the Palmer Drought Severity Index. The Palmer Index is calculated from precipitation and temperature measurements at weather stations, and has been used widely for many years.