Fountain Hills Weather
Blue skies over Sunridge Canyon Golf Course in Fountain Hills.
Central Arizona Weather
Phoenix and its surrounding suburbs in central Arizona are collectively known as “The Valley of the Sun.” The ‘Valley’ has 211 completely sunny days a year, and many more days that only have a few clouds. For comparison consider parts of the Midwest, like Cleveland Ohio, which has only 66 sunny days a year!
For most of the year this region has almost perfect weather. The exception is the sometimes uncomfortably hot summers. Most Valley residents agree this is a small price to pay for being able to play golf in February in short sleeves!
Fountain Hills Weather is More Comfortable!
Fountain Hills enjoys as many sunny days as Phoenix, but is slightly cooler than Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and other Valley cities for a few reasons: Higher Elevation, McDowell Mountain shade, cooling mountain breezes and sparser development.
Many people who move from the Phoenix area to Fountain Hills are amazed at the cumulative effect of these factors. They find they can sit out during all but the hottest summer evenings if their patios are shaded and enjoy the outdoors almost year-round!
On the other end of the thermometer, Fountain Hills' temperatures rarely get below freezing. When they do it is generally for a few hours in the middle of the night.
Average Temperatures and Precipitation
Average monthly temperatures and precipitation for Fountain Hills:
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg High Temp | 65 | 70 | 75 | 84 | 93 | 103 | 105 | 104 | 99 | 88 | 74 | 65 |
| Avg Mean Temp | 53 | 56 | 61 | 68 | 77 | 86 | 91 | 90 | 85 | 74 | 60 | 53 |
| Avg Low Temp | 40 | 42 | 46 | 53 | 61 | 70 | 76 | 76 | 70 | 59 | 46 | 40 |
| Avg Precip | 1.49" | 1.37" | 1.76" | 0.39" | 0.24" | 0.06" | 1.02" | 1.28" | 0.97" | 1.10" | 1.02" | 1.27" |
Temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit
Monsoon
Every July, a touch of Asia comes to central Arizona and Fountain Hills: the Southwest Monsoon! The Monsoon generally starts about mid-July and ends around mid-September. It brings increased humidity and often spectacular afternoon and evening thunderstorms. The Monsoon storms have a comforting cooling effect on the weather during this period. A large Monsoon thunderstorm can cool off the Valley by 10-20 degrees for a few days.
A summer monsoon storm builds north of Fountain Hills.
The Monsoon weather is caused by a change in the regional wind patterns that draws moisture from the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean. In central Arizona the combination of the rising air from the heated ground and mountains deflecting the moving moist air mass skyward generates the clouds and thunderstorms.
Seasons
People moving from areas of the U.S. with harsher climates often think that Phoenix has no seasons. There are distinct seasons here, but they are more subtle than northern climes.
'Winter' is very brief and is generally considered mid-December through mid-February. It is just cold enough to appreciate the holiday season and enjoy some warm drinks by the fireplace! Occasional cold fronts will bring overcast days and gentle rains in Fountain Hills and snow on the local mountain peaks. Every few years Fountain Hills gets a fraction of an inch of snow that melts quickly.
Spring is a great season, especially if the rains in the previous fall and winter were enough to spur wildflower germination. When this happens, the desert is transformed into a riot of bold colors. Trees, bushes and ground cover throw forth blazing neon hues of yellow, purple, red, orange & pink. Whole hillsides get painted one or more vibrant colors. To add to the visual enjoyment, the temperatures during spring are absolutely perfect!
A rare snow dusts the tops of the McDowell Mountains.
Summer starts pushing its way in during mid-May. The first few days the temperature tops 100 are uncomfortable, but most people adjust. What helps the comfort level is that the air is very dry until July when Monsoon season begins. The Monsoon brings magnificent clouds, beautiful lightning and cooling rains. Although this time of year can be quite humid and hot, a good Monsoon storm will cool the temperature to a comfortable level for a few days.
Fall brings picture-perfect weather and temperatures! Although displays of falling leaves are very limited in Fountain Hills, there are many stunning hikes an hour or two away that have stands of colorful trees just waiting for you and your camera.
Summer Getaways to Cool Northern Arizona
People who live in cold climates sometimes compare Phoenix area summers with their winters, claiming Central Arizonans are trapped inside waiting for the arrival of a more temperate season. We disagree!
Many people in Fountain Hills get up at sunrise and golf, run, hike or do any number of outdoor activities for the first few hours in the morning even on the hottest days of the year. Parks are lit at night and hundreds enjoy them near and after sunset. Can you do that in Chicago in winter?
Another great option if you are sick of the heat in July is to take a trip up north to the Arizona high country. For example, the beautiful Mogollon Rim Country is just an hour and a half drive north of Fountain Hills. This beautiful area features the largest contiguous stand of Ponderosa Pine in the world and is 20-30 degrees cooler than Fountain Hills! Try finding comfortable temps that close to Minneapolis next January!