This is the hottest of our North American deserts. Summer midday temperatures quite commonly climb above 100° F. Less than 12 inches of rain fall in a typical year. Between the summer and winter rainy seasons, it is not unusual for months to pass without a drop of rain. The plants and animals able to survive in this environment, with adaptations specially designed for desert survival, make up one of the most interesting and unusual collections of life in the United States.
Rainbow after gentle winter rain. |
Many people feel the best desert season is from October through April, when high temperatures are in the 60s to 80s°F. Nighttime temperatures during this time can fall into the 40s. The hottest period is from May through September, when highs average in the 100s°F. Still, at night, temperatures drop by as much as 30°F. Rainy seasons occur twice a year, in short but violent thunderstorms, from July through September (Monsoon Season,) and in gentle rains, from January to March. Otherwise, sunshine prevails. In lushness and variety of life the Sonoran Desert far surpasses all other North American deserts.
