What’s the weather like in Prescott?  I hear this question frequently from folks looking to relocate to Prescott from another state.  Of course the answer is going to somewhat relative, but the description of “mild four season weather” is typically used to describe Prescott’s climate. 

Since I grew up in the Colorado/Kansas/Nebraska area, I find the Prescott weather very, very pleasant.  Outside of some windy days in the springtime, I would pretty much describe the weather as an almost perfect mix of “not too cold in the winter” and “not too hot in the summer”. 

The lack of humidity in Northern Arizona definitely contributes to our comfort level.  If you’ve ever lived in an area with high humidity, you know how uncomfortable that additional dampness can be.  It makes cold weather seem colder and hot weather almost unbearable.  In Northern Arizona that lack of humidity means that even in the summer the nighttime lows will be in the upper 50’s and low 60’s, even though the daytime high may have been close to 90°.  That same low humidity also means that only a sweater or light jacket is needed when our winter temperatures are in the 50’s. 

My favorite season in Prescott is “monsoon season”, which basically runs from about the first week of July through mid-September.  This is our “green” time of the year as it rains almost daily.  However, this isn’t dreary rainy days one usually associates with the “rainy season”.  Rather, the monsoons are brief daily showers that last about 30 minutes.  Sometimes the rain will be a downpour accompanied by thunder and lightning.  Other days it will be more of a light shower.  And sometimes the sun even continues to shine during the rainstorm!  If you’ve ever experienced an afternoon mountain shower while visiting the Rockies, then you’ll have a pretty good idea of what “monsoon season” is like in Prescott.  The two great benefits of the daily rains – green grass and a temperature drop of about 10° to 15°.

Winter in Prescott is fairly brief and relatively mild.  We do get an occasional snowfall, which usually melts as it hits the ground or within a few hours.  Daytime highs are typically in the 50’s, although we may have some colder days in the 40’s and occasionally a few 30’s.  Nighttime winter lows are usually in the upper 20’s, but we can get a cold snap for a day or two with temperatures in the teens.  We usually don’t see snow until December, and our winter is pretty much over by the 1^st of March when temperatures will be back into the 60’s by mid-month. 

If you’re thinking of relocating to Prescott, please visit often at various times of the year.  And be sure to plan a trip during summer monsoon season.  Take time to enjoy an Arts & Crafts fair at historic Courthouse Square in the late morning or early afternoon, and then have dessert in one of the neighborhood cafés in the afternoon as you watch a monsoon shower pass over Prescott.