So this whole Scottsdale weather thing started ’cause I got sick of packing totally wrong clothes whenever visiting my cousin out there. Arizona seasons play tricks on you! Pulled up weather apps but just got messy numbers – needed the big picture stuff. Grabbed my dusty laptop and a cold coffee, dove into this mission.
The Hunt for Real Data
First up? Hit NOAA’s site – total headache. Charts look like spaghetti thrown at the wall. Clicked “Download CSV” and bam, spreadsheet hell opened up. Fifty years of daily temps, rain dots, wind mumbo-jumbo. My eyes glazed over scrolling this monster.
Called up Gary, my cousin who’s lived there twenty years. “Gary, when does it ACTUALLY stop feeling like an oven?” He laughed. “Bro, monsoons kick in July – streets flood quick. October? Pure magic. January mornings? Freeze your toes off.” Wrote that down in big letters – real people knowledge beats raw data any day.
- Fought the spreadsheet: Grouped temps by month, averaged highs/lows, flagged crazy outlier days (like that random 122°F June Tuesday)
- Rain drama: Highlighted every pathetic drizzle and monsoon downpour – summer months hogged 70% of the yearly total! Barely any drops other times.
- Sun worship: Counted sunny days – duh, like 300+ a year. Shocker.
Putting the Puzzle Together
Slapped everything into a new doc. Three things slapped me in the face:
First: “Winter” ain’t real like back east. December-February days hit 60s-70s – gorgeous! But dawn? Drop into 30s-40s. Pack that hoodie AND sunscreen. Crucial detail!
Second: Summer’s a beast, but not what I thought. June is DRY heat – brutal but manageable. July-August? Humidity jumps with monsoons. That thick, sticky air hits different. Sweat instantly. Plan outdoor stuff for like… 5 AM.
Third: Spring/Fall are cheat codes. March-May & October-November? Perfection. 70s-80s sunshine, cool nights. Tourists know it – prices jump. Book early or cry.
The Real Test – Using it!
Took my own notes for a trip last April. Packed light layers, left the heavy jacket. Cousin Gary approved. Mornings were crisp – hoodie weather hiking Camelback. By lunch? T-shirt vibes, sunscreen mandatory. Evening chilled right down – threw that hoodie back on for patio beers. Nailed it.
Final thought? Data’s cool, but living it teaches you. That spreadsheet gathers dust now. My cheat sheet?
Winter Days: Light layers + jacket for AM
Summer Survivor Kit: Water bottle glued to hand, sunrise hikes, respect monsoon storms
Prime Time: Spring/Fall – fight tourists for patio seats.
Saved myself future packing meltdowns. Worth every spreadsheet headache.
