Rate The Climate: Sierra Vista, Arizona (averages, temperature, most, sunshine)

[ABrandNewWorld]

Originally Posted by deneb78

I'll give it a C+. I'd take Phoenix over this.

Winters in Sierra Vista are quite sunny with most days topping off at around 60F plus it gets more summer monsoons than Phoenix. Snow might happen once a year and it would be quickly melted within a day or so. I'll take it over Phoenix. A solid B.

[chiluvr1228]

Living in SW Florida where it is hot and very humid 6+ months out of the year I might enjoy the weather in Sierra Vista. However there are a lot of other issues in that town. Go to this site if you are considering moving there and read some of the comments under the weather facts: Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

[deneb78]

Originally Posted by ABrandNewWorld

Winters in Sierra Vista are quite sunny with most days topping off at around 60F plus it gets more summer monsoons than Phoenix. Snow might happen once a year and it would be quickly melted within a day or so. I'll take it over Phoenix. A solid B.

Once a year is one time a year too many...

[ABrandNewWorld]

Originally Posted by deneb78

Once a year is one time a year too many...

or you could still be cold 360 days a year in San Francisco and never get snow in 100 years.

[Nyc_Anyday_Everyday]

C.

Nice mild winters but lows are not compatible with high temps. Nice hot summers also but it gets a C because rainfall is to low for my tastes.

[deneb78]

Originally Posted by ABrandNewWorld

or you could still be cold 360 days a year in San Francisco and never get snow in 100 years.

I'd take Sierra Vista over San Fran but not by much.

[srfoskey]

C-/D+
It's too warm and most of the year is too dry. I want more cold and snow in winter. But I like the July and August precipitation.

[mlulu23]

Originally Posted by ABrandNewWorld

Winters in Sierra Vista are quite sunny with most days topping off at around 60F plus it gets more summer monsoons than Phoenix. Snow might happen once a year and it would be quickly melted within a day or so. I'll take it over Phoenix. A solid B.

Yes, take it over Phoenix any day. And please don't forget the glorious sunsets that area gets. And while not about the climate directly, it attracts 15 different hummingbirds that visit there because of what that climate is able to grow. Which is to me, a gardner of sorts, pretty cool. Then you could garden with that in mind like I did in Sequim, Wa. Lot's of wonderful plants would grow there. Mulching heavily would save on water for some water loving plants. A bunch of people grow all types of exotic fruits, and plants in Phoenix using heavy mulching, as in 2-3ft deep. Youtube has many videos about it. Not that you could grow them at SV's altitude, but some might make it. It would be fun trying.

There are many drought tolerant plants from around the world that you could grow in Sierra Vista's climate with proper microclimates, and careful plant siting, protection from the wind. Those record lows of 4F might cause some problems. But maybe you could cover them if you knew it was going to get super cold. The Desert Northwest in Sequim is one such specialty nursery with plants that may work. I've bought plants from him several times, and can vouch for his quality, knowledge, and honesty. I don't know if he does mail orders though. That area in Wa is in the rain shadow of the Olympics, and only gets around 16" a year, and has to irrigate. It's known as a cool mediterranean climate, and is the lavender capital of the world.

So I gave SV a B. With a little more rain, or a little cooler in the summer the score would go up.

[mlulu23]

Originally Posted by deneb78

Once a year is one time a year too many...

I love getting those rare snows that only last a day, once, or twice a year. And then soak deep into the ground. For me, it's just the right amount of snow. Then I'm good till next year, lol.

[cBach]

I gave it a B. It's too dry most of the year for my taste and I'd prefer those 3" totals in the summer to be spread out more evenly, but I could probably live in this climate in retirement. It's very similar to parts of New Mexico that I'm thinking about.

I prefer Sedona's winter precip over this summer precip. Sedona is closer to California so it gets winter rain but also gets a small amount of monsoonal moisture. SE AZ doesn't get winter rain but gets heavier doses of monsoonal moisture. Sedona is kind of in the sweet spot..