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Weather & Climate in Surprise, AZ
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Surprise has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 74°F (23°C). Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 100°F in July. The area gets 350 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 9.6 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 1,352 feet.
Temperature
50°F Jan (10°C)
100°F Jul (38°C)
| Annual Average | 73.6°F |
| 36% above US avg | |
| January Average | 50°F (10°C) |
| July Average | 100°F (38°C) |
| Sunny Days | 350 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,352 ft (412 m) |
| Area | 105.9 sq mi (274.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,353/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 33.6708°N, 112.4525°W |
| Timezone | America/Phoenix |
| County | Maricopa County County |
| Nearest Airport | Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) 30 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 45.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very High |
| Risk Score | 99.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 27.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 18.0 / 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
20 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.8.
| Jul 23, 2023 | 2 km E of Chino Valley, Arizona | M3.8 | 121 km | 5 km |
| Mar 18, 2011 | 7 km NNW of Clarkdale, Arizona | M3.8 | 134 km | 5 km |
| Jan 23, 2011 | 7 km NNW of Clarkdale, Arizona | M3.6 | 134 km | 5 km |
| Oct 25, 2011 | 4 km WSW of Paulden, Arizona | M3.5 | 134 km | 5 km |
| Nov 13, 1991 | 5 km NW of Prescott Valley, Arizona | M3.5 | 109 km | 5 km |
| Apr 1, 1994 | 22 km WNW of Paulden, Arizona | M3.3 | 143 km | 5 km |
| Jun 25, 2010 | 8 km SW of Roosevelt, Arizona | M3.1 | 117 km | 5 km |
| May 9, 2009 | 11 km SSW of Cordes Lakes, Arizona | M3.1 | 67 km | 5 km |
| Mar 4, 2015 | 26 km ENE of Bagdad, Arizona | M3.0 | 117 km | 5 km |
| Aug 30, 2014 | 8 km W of Rock House, Arizona | M2.9 | 131 km | 3 km |
| Sep 9, 2014 | 6 km SE of Roosevelt, Arizona | M2.9 | 126 km | 3 km |
| Sep 26, 2010 | 3 km NNW of Roosevelt, Arizona | M2.8 | 121 km | 5 km |
| Mar 2, 2015 | 120km ESE of Kingman, AZ | M2.7 | 122 km | 1 km |
| Jul 24, 2008 | 38km E of Parker, AZ | M2.6 | 145 km | 4 km |
| Jun 6, 2020 | 5 km NW of New River, Arizona | M2.6 | 41 km | 5 km |
| Feb 25, 2022 | 1 km S of Roosevelt, Arizona | M2.6 | 122 km | 5 km |
| Apr 15, 2025 | 14 km N of Clarkdale, Arizona | M2.5 | 143 km | 12 km |
| Feb 15, 2022 | 6 km S of Roosevelt, Arizona | M2.5 | 123 km | 10 km |
| Feb 12, 2022 | 2 km ESE of Roosevelt, Arizona | M2.5 | 124 km | 5 km |
| Aug 3, 2025 | 39 km SSW of Bagdad, Arizona | M2.5 | 110 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
81 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 63 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jan 17, 1993 | EF2 | 52 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1972 | EF2 | 48 km | 13.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 14, 1971 | EF2 | 30 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 30, 1971 | EF2 | 60 km | 4.7 mi | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1968 | EF2 | 20 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 4, 1968 | EF2 | 72 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 2010 | EF1 | 46 km | 1.4 mi | 0 |
| Feb 13, 1995 | EF1 | 78 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jan 18, 1993 | EF1 | 96 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 | 88 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 9, 1984 | EF1 | 33 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 22, 1984 | EF1 | 92 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1983 | EF1 | 47 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1983 | EF1 | 30 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Sep 5, 1981 | EF1 | 12 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 5, 1981 | EF1 | 84 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 25, 1977 | EF1 | 17 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| May 4, 1976 | EF1 | 71 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: San Francisco Volcanic Field (199 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| San Francisco Volcanic Field | Pyroclastic cone | 3,850 m (12,631 ft) | 1075 | 199 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 | 83 km |
| 2005 | EDGE COMPLEX | 69,291 | 98 km |
| 2017 | BROOKLYN | 39,780 | 69 km |
| 1998 | UNNAMED | 38,814 | 85 km |
| 2017 | GOODWIN | 28,192 | 80 km |
| 2024 | SAND STONE | 26,470 | 83 km |
| 2024 | SKELETON | 22,753 | 67 km |
| 1995 | RIO | 22,666 | 63 km |
| 1995 | BASIN | 21,533 | 88 km |
| 2012 | SUNFLOWER | 17,687 | 96 km |
| 2021 | TIGER | 16,380 | 59 km |
| 1999 | HARCUVAR | 16,305 | 96 km |
| 2012 | GLADIATOR | 16,096 | 67 km |
| 2024 | SIPHON | 15,019 | 99 km |
| 2024 | WILDCAT | 14,176 | 68 km |
| 2020 | SEARS | 13,369 | 70 km |
| 1995 | RIVER | 11,707 | 87 km |
| 2020 | CONSTELLATION | 11,245 | 42 km |
| 2005 | BART | 10,997 | 76 km |
| 2005 | J. CANYON | 10,361 | 57 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50°F (10°C) | 1.1 in | Coldest |
| February | 56°F (14°C) | 1.1 in | |
| March | 61°F (16°C) | 1.3 in | |
| April | 68°F (20°C) | 0.3 in | |
| May | 77°F (25°C) | 0.2 in | |
| June | 87°F (30°C) | 0.1 in | Driest |
| July | 100°F (38°C) | 0.9 in | Warmest |
| August | 90°F (32°C) | 1.5 in | Wettest |
| September | 84°F (29°C) | 1.0 in | |
| October | 73°F (23°C) | 0.6 in | |
| November | 60°F (16°C) | 0.9 in | |
| December | 53°F (11°C) | 1.1 in |
Surprise has a seasonal temperature swing of 50°F / from 50°F in January to 100°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 10.2 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.5") and June the driest (0.1").