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Weather & Climate in Cactus Forest, AZ
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Cactus Forest has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 72°F (22°C). Winters average 54°F in January while summers reach 91°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 10.0 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 45. The city sits at an elevation of 1,823 feet.
Temperature
54°F Jan (12°C)
91°F Jul (33°C)
| Annual Average | 72.2°F |
| 34% above US avg | |
| January Average | 54°F (12°C) |
| July Average | 91°F (33°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,823 ft (556 m) |
| Area | 2.7 sq mi (7.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 186/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 32.9578°N, 111.3169°W |
| Timezone | America/Phoenix |
| County | Pinal County County |
| Nearest Airport | Marana Regional (AVW) 38 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 45.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 93.8 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 43.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 13.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively High |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
10 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.1.
| Jun 25, 2010 | 8 km SW of Roosevelt, Arizona | M3.1 | 73 km | 5 km |
| Sep 28, 2023 | 21 km E of Tanque Verde, Arizona | M3.1 | 112 km | 12 km |
| Sep 9, 2014 | 6 km SE of Roosevelt, Arizona | M2.9 | 77 km | 3 km |
| Aug 30, 2014 | 8 km W of Rock House, Arizona | M2.9 | 81 km | 3 km |
| Sep 26, 2010 | 3 km NNW of Roosevelt, Arizona | M2.8 | 84 km | 5 km |
| Jun 6, 2020 | 5 km NW of New River, Arizona | M2.6 | 136 km | 5 km |
| Feb 25, 2022 | 1 km S of Roosevelt, Arizona | M2.6 | 79 km | 5 km |
| Aug 9, 2025 | 14 km ENE of Willow Canyon, Arizona | M2.6 | 93 km | 12 km |
| Feb 15, 2022 | 6 km S of Roosevelt, Arizona | M2.5 | 75 km | 10 km |
| Feb 12, 2022 | 2 km ESE of Roosevelt, Arizona | M2.5 | 80 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
85 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 3 fatalities, 126 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jul 28, 1994 | EF2 | 70 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jan 17, 1993 | EF2 | 91 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1972 | EF2 | 85 km | 13.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 30, 1971 | EF2 | 73 km | 4.7 mi | 0 |
| Jul 4, 1968 | EF2 | 64 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 27, 1964 | EF2 | 89 km | 0.1 mi | 2 |
| Jul 14, 1996 | EF1 | 70 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Feb 13, 1995 | EF1 | 56 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jan 18, 1993 | EF1 | 37 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 6, 1992 | EF1 | 89 km | 2.8 mi | 0 |
| May 23, 1992 | EF1 | 91 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jan 6, 1992 | EF1 | 91 km | 1.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 24, 1991 | EF1 | 60 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 20, 1988 | EF1 | 22 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Nov 18, 1986 | EF1 | 56 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Mar 15, 1985 | EF1 | 19 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 22, 1984 | EF1 | 49 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 16, 1984 | EF1 | 97 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1983 | EF1 | 85 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Sep 5, 1981 | EF1 | 67 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BUSH (212,542 acres, 2020).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2020 | BUSH | 212,542 | 95 km |
| 2021 | TELEGRAPH | 187,248 | 49 km |
| 2019 | WOODBURY | 130,242 | 64 km |
| 2020 | BIGHORN | 126,131 | 80 km |
| 2003 | ASPEN | 79,707 | 77 km |
| 2021 | MESCAL | 79,346 | 73 km |
| 2005 | EDGE COMPLEX | 69,291 | 93 km |
| 2020 | GRIFFIN | 61,455 | 89 km |
| 1996 | LONE | 60,574 | 81 km |
| 2024 | FREEMAN | 32,950 | 39 km |
| 2002 | BULLOCK | 31,774 | 85 km |
| 2017 | BURRO | 26,852 | 93 km |
| 2024 | SAND STONE | 26,470 | 93 km |
| 2020 | SAWTOOTH | 23,174 | 48 km |
| 1995 | RIO | 22,666 | 92 km |
| 2020 | SALT | 21,885 | 74 km |
| 2020 | ROCKHOUSE | 18,435 | 75 km |
| 2005 | THREE FIRE COMPLEX (THREE) | 15,849 | 85 km |
| 2024 | SIPHON | 15,019 | 58 km |
| 2014 | OAK | 13,664 | 99 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 54°F (12°C) | 1.1 in | |
| February | 55°F (13°C) | 1.1 in | |
| March | 59°F (15°C) | 1.3 in | |
| April | 66°F (19°C) | 0.4 in | |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 0.2 in | |
| June | 84°F (29°C) | 0.1 in | Driest |
| July | 91°F (33°C) | 1.5 in | Warmest |
| August | 88°F (31°C) | 1.9 in | Wettest |
| September | 84°F (29°C) | 1.1 in | |
| October | 73°F (23°C) | 1.0 in | |
| November | 60°F (15°C) | 1.0 in | |
| December | 52°F (11°C) | 1.6 in | Coldest |
Cactus Forest has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 52°F in December to 91°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.4 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.9") and June the driest (0.1").