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Weather & Climate in Carefree, AZ

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Carefree has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 71°F (21°C). Winters average 53°F in January while summers reach 90°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 12.6 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 2,423 feet.

Temperature

53°F Jan (12°C) 90°F Jul (32°C)
Annual Average70.6°F
31% above US avg
January Average53°F (12°C)
July Average90°F (32°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,423 ft (739 m)
Area8.8 sq mi (22.8 km²)
Population Density417/sq mi
Coordinates33.8232°N, 111.9133°W
TimezoneAmerica/Phoenix
CountyMaricopa County County
Nearest AirportPhoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
27 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 12.6"
67% below US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Mar) 1.81"
Driest Month (Jun) 0.20"

Air Quality

AQI Median45.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery High
Risk Score99.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability27.1 / 100
Community Resilience18.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively High
Flood Very High
Hail Very High
Strong Wind Very High
Heat Wave Very High
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively High
Drought Relatively High
Cold Wave No Rating
Landslide Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

42 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.1.

Mar 2, 2005 40 km SSW of Winslow West, Arizona M5.1 132 km 5 km
Jan 30, 2005 41 km NNE of Washington Park, Arizona M4.0 130 km 5 km
Jan 28, 2005 40 km NE of Washington Park, Arizona M3.8 130 km 5 km
Jul 23, 2023 2 km E of Chino Valley, Arizona M3.8 114 km 5 km
Mar 18, 2011 7 km NNW of Clarkdale, Arizona M3.8 114 km 5 km
Feb 8, 2005 37 km NE of Washington Park, Arizona M3.6 127 km 5 km
Jan 23, 2011 7 km NNW of Clarkdale, Arizona M3.6 114 km 5 km
Oct 25, 2011 4 km WSW of Paulden, Arizona M3.5 129 km 5 km
Nov 13, 1991 5 km NW of Prescott Valley, Arizona M3.5 100 km 5 km
Jul 1, 2005 23 km NE of Washington Park, Arizona M3.4 113 km 5 km
Apr 1, 1994 22 km WNW of Paulden, Arizona M3.3 144 km 5 km
Jul 1, 2005 37 km NE of Washington Park, Arizona M3.2 127 km 5 km
Jan 8, 2012 28 km SW of Winslow West, Arizona M3.2 143 km 5 km
May 9, 2009 11 km SSW of Cordes Lakes, Arizona M3.1 48 km 5 km
Jun 25, 2010 8 km SW of Roosevelt, Arizona M3.1 71 km 5 km
May 5, 2015 6 km W of Munds Park, Arizona M3.1 127 km 7 km
Jun 17, 2014 17 km SSE of Williams, Arizona M3.0 144 km 10 km
Feb 19, 2025 0 km SW of Christopher Creek, Arizona M3.0 99 km 11 km
Mar 4, 2015 26 km ENE of Bagdad, Arizona M3.0 131 km 5 km
Sep 9, 2014 6 km SE of Roosevelt, Arizona M2.9 80 km 3 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

86 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 61 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Jan 17, 1993 EF2 23 km 2.1 mi 0
Jun 21, 1972 EF2 40 km 13.5 mi 0
Sep 14, 1971 EF2 53 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 30, 1971 EF2 50 km 4.7 mi 0
Oct 3, 1968 EF2 58 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 4, 1968 EF2 49 km 0.1 mi 0
Nov 19, 2023 EF1 76 km 2.4 mi 0
Oct 6, 2010 EF1 93 km 14.1 mi 0
Jul 29, 2010 EF1 97 km 1.4 mi 0
Feb 13, 1995 EF1 56 km 0.5 mi 0
Jan 18, 1993 EF1 81 km 2.0 mi 0
May 23, 1992 EF1 41 km 0.5 mi 0
Jan 6, 1992 EF1 41 km 1.2 mi 0
Nov 18, 1986 EF1 56 km 0.5 mi 0
Aug 9, 1984 EF1 28 km 0.5 mi 0
Jul 22, 1984 EF1 89 km 1.0 mi 0
Aug 16, 1983 EF1 45 km 0.3 mi 0
Aug 8, 1983 EF1 48 km 0.2 mi 0
Sep 5, 1981 EF1 41 km 1.0 mi 0
Mar 25, 1977 EF1 58 km 1.0 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: San Francisco Volcanic Field (171 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
San Francisco Volcanic Field Pyroclastic cone 3,850 m (12,631 ft) 1075 171 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CAVE CREEK COMPLEX (246,143 acres, 2005).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2005 CAVE CREEK COMPLEX 246,143 47 km
2020 BUSH 212,542 51 km
2019 WOODBURY 130,242 76 km
2004 WILLOW 118,494 50 km
2005 EDGE COMPLEX 69,291 48 km
1996 LONE 60,574 57 km
2021 BACKBONE 41,168 67 km
2017 BROOKLYN 39,780 40 km
1998 UNNAMED 38,814 97 km
2016 JUNIPER 32,293 91 km
2017 GOODWIN 28,192 72 km
2024 SAND STONE 26,470 33 km
1990 DUDE 25,080 93 km
2020 SAWTOOTH 23,174 75 km
2024 SKELETON 22,753 40 km
1995 RIO 22,666 19 km
2020 SALT 21,885 97 km
1995 BASIN 21,533 36 km
2012 SUNFLOWER 17,687 43 km
2019 COLDWATER 16,825 91 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 53°F (12°C) 1.4 in
February 55°F (13°C) 1.5 in
March 58°F (15°C) 1.8 in Wettest
April 65°F (18°C) 0.6 in
May 74°F (23°C) 0.2 in
June 83°F (28°C) 0.2 in Driest
July 90°F (32°C) 1.3 in Warmest
August 87°F (31°C) 1.7 in
September 82°F (28°C) 1.2 in
October 72°F (22°C) 1.0 in
November 59°F (15°C) 1.3 in
December 52°F (11°C) 1.7 in Coldest

Carefree has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 52°F in December to 90°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 13.9 inches, with March being the wettest month (1.8") and June the driest (0.2").

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