Phoenix vs Tucson: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 178 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Phoenix is the sunnier overall: about 3,833 hours of sunshine a year to Tucson's 3,726. Tucson has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months, Phoenix in 3 (4 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Phoenix | Tucson | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,833 | 3,726 |
| Sunniest month | April (99/100) | April (99/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 91/100 | 86/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 3/100 | 42/100 |
| Rain / year | 254 mm | 322 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 11 (extreme) |
Phoenix vs Tucson month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | Tucson | Phoenix | Tucson | Phoenix | Tucson | |
| January | 86 | 80 | 19° | 18° | 33 | 24 |
| February | 94 | 88 | 21° | 19° | 32 | 21 |
| March | 96 | 97 | 26° | 24° | 21 | 14 |
| April | 99 | 99 | 30° | 28° | 8 | 8 |
| May | 69 | 89 | 35° | 33° | 6 | 4 |
| June | 0 | 30 | 42° | 39° | 2 | 8 |
| July | 0 | 42 | 42° | 37° | 33 | 83 |
| August | 9 | 53 | 41° | 36° | 33 | 64 |
| September | 38 | 74 | 38° | 34° | 22 | 40 |
| October | 97 | 97 | 32° | 29° | 14 | 15 |
| November | 97 | 97 | 25° | 23° | 19 | 14 |
| December | 86 | 79 | 19° | 18° | 31 | 27 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Phoenix · Feb Phoenix · Mar even · Apr even · May Tucson · Jun Tucson · Jul Tucson · Aug Tucson · Sep Tucson · Oct even · Nov even · Dec Phoenix.
When to pick which
- November–February: Phoenix (average score 91/100 vs 86). Daytime highs are similar (21°C vs 20°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Tucson (average score 95/100 vs 88). Phoenix is the warmer, around 30°C daytime highs vs 28°C.
- June–August: Tucson (average score 42/100 vs 3). Phoenix is the warmer, around 42°C daytime highs vs 37°C.
- September–October: Tucson (average score 86/100 vs 68). Phoenix is the warmer, around 35°C daytime highs vs 32°C.
Full month-by-month guides: Phoenix weather by month · Tucson weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Phoenix vs Mesa · Phoenix vs Grand Canyon - Tusayan · Tucson vs Mesa · Tucson vs Hermosillo · all head-to-heads