When Does Fall Really Start in Arizona? It Depends!

Autumn in Arizona is unlike anywhere else in the country. I like to think you can experience a little bit of every "second summer" and exciting fall adventure, and most of it with only a short drive.

When Does Fall Begin in Phoenix and Tucson?

If you love the cooler fall weather, depending on where you are, you might have a long wait. In Phoenix and Tucson, the shift from blazing hot to mild and pleasant happens about late September to mid-October.

Fall arrives slowly and much later than it seems like it should. The desert is reluctant to let go of that lingering summer heat.

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How Soon Does Fall Arrive in Flagstaff and Alpine?

Flagstaff, on the other hand, is at a much higher elevation, about 7,000 feet, versus around 1,100 feet for Phoenix. As you can imagine, it gets colder sooner in Lumberjack country. They start donning sweaters around mid-September.

The same for Alpine and other places in Apache County. Located at around 8,000 feet, it starts getting chilly there in early to mid-September.

Looking for Fall Fun? Check this out: Explore These Exciting 15 Fall Activities in Arizona

Because of the higher elevation, the crisp fall weather arrives much earlier than it does in the rest of the state. The average temperatures in September are daytime highs in the mid-70s and overnight lows in the mid-40s.

By October, the average temperatures drop about 10 degrees Fahrenheit on both the high and low ends, then fall ten more degrees by November.

When Does Autumn Arrive in Cochise County?

If you're in Cochise County, there's a good chance you'll experience a long summer. After the monsoons taper off, the weather may cool for a bit.

Don't pull those hoodies out of mothballs just yet, though. Bisbee, Sierra Vista, and Tombstone are notorious for "second summer", that final post-summer-pre-fall warm-up that hits right before the cool weather settles in.

Looking for Pumpkin Picking? Check this out: Best Place to Pick a Pumpkin in Arizona

Does Fall Ever Arrive in Yuma?

Then there's Yuma: the poster child for unrelenting Arizona heat. Yuma sits at a mere 140 feet above sea level, so it's a convection bowl of heat, and summer lingers well past the time the calendar claims fall should arrive.

Average temperatures in September are still topping out with highs around 102°F and lows still plenty hot at 74°F. You have to wait until well into November for the shift to really take hold. Even still, it's one of the warmest places in the state with average highs at about 79°F and lows around 52°F.

Embrace the Diverse Fall Weather in Arizona

If you're not a fan of the fall weather in your Arizona town, drive a couple of hours in a new direction. I guarantee you'll find exactly what you're looking for, and you won't have to leave the Grand Canyon State.