How To Survive an Arizona Winter

I'm going to confess something. I'm a summer girl.

I used to think I was a fall diva or even a spring aficionado, but it turns out I love all things summer.

That said, I don't like winter.

No. Just, no. // Canva

Scratch that. I hate-loathe-detest-abhor winter. All of it. The chill. The deadness. The overwintering creatures who drive ten miles an hour under the speed limit.

But I digress.

Winter is my least favorite season. I say this boldly and plainly on the off chance my spelling it out was in any way unclear. Bleh. It's just gross.

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Surviving Winter in Arizona

I'm boggled by the folks who claim they loooove winter. The cozy sweaters, the warm beverages, the scarves, and boots.

Yuck. Keep it. Give me flip-flops, a pair of capris, and an iced tea, and you're talking my language.

Flagstaff gets more snow than anywhere in the country, some years. // Canva

Winter in Arizona is a fascinating mix of mild and chilly vibes, depending on where you are. If you're hanging out in Phoenix or Tucson, you'll experience mild winters with average highs around 66°F and lows around 46°F.

It's not bad if you have memories of -40°F in your wheelhouse. It's a tragedy if 90°F and sunshine is more your vibe.

Iced Tea is better than hot cocoa. Fight me. // Canva

It's even worse if you head up north to places like Flagstaff or the Grand Canyon. You'll find a whole different story there and probably freeze your toes off. (That is, if you're wearing flip-flops. Which I probably am.)

Did you know that there have been years when Flagstaff got more snow than anywhere else in the country? MORE SNOW than Chicago, Buffalo, or Poughkeepsie!?!

Flagstaff averages around 28 inches of snow annually, with wildly cold temps. The average highs can range around 43°F (6°C)** and lows dipping to 20°F.

Thank you. No.

Crank up the heat, drink iced tea and wait for summer to return. // Canva

How to Survive Winter in Arizona

So, my advice is this: stay indoors, light a fire (presumably in a fireplace), don your coziest flip-flops, and hunker down until spring. If you keep the thermostat up high enough, you can drink all the iced tea you want!

Sources: Weather Atlas | Weather Spark | Current Results

LOOK: The most extreme temperatures in the history of every state

Stacker consulted 2021 data from the NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) to illustrate the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in each state. Each slide also reveals the all-time highest 24-hour precipitation record and all-time highest 24-hour snowfall.

Keep reading to find out individual state records in alphabetical order.

Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi

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There's a lot to love about living in Arizona. People around the world have relocated here for the weather, the beauty, and the history.

There are also some things about living in The 'Zone that aren't so great. We held an informal poll and asked what you LOVE and what you HATE about living in Arizona.

Gallery Credit: Val Davidson/TSM