Climate Comfort Score
83/100
Excellent
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 63°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Benson, AZ Climate
Average temperature, precipitation, and a comfort score, drawn from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals →
- 63°F
- Avg annual temp
- 83/100
- Comfort score
- 11.8"
- Annual precip
- 203d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Benson
Benson, Arizona averages 63°F a year and scores 83/100 on the comfort index - excellent, milder than 85% of U.S. cities.
- 63°F
- yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
- 83/100
- comfort score, milder than 85% of U.S. cities
- 11.8"
- precipitation, annual total
- 203 days
- frost-free days per growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
63°F (17°C)
Avg High
82°F
Avg Low
45°F
Annual Precip
11.8"
Annual Snow
0.2"
Comfort Score
83/100
Excellent
Avg Annual Temperature
63°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
11.8"
Liquid-equivalent total
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Benson) 83.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Excellent for the Benson area.
How Benson compares to every U.S. city
Benson's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
83 Top 15% higher than 85% of 6,915 US cities
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Warming context for Benson
MethodologyThe chart below traces how the U.S. land temperature anomaly has moved against the global mean since 1900. For Benson, the NOAA 1991-2020 normal captures average conditions across that spread - notably, the most recent decade runs warmer than the 30-year mean itself.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 65°F (18°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 0.8" | 0.2" | 24.8 | 0.0 |
| February | 68°F (20°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 49°F (10°C) | 0.6" | 0.0" | 17.4 | 0.0 |
| March | 74°F (24°C) | 35°F (2°C) | 55°F (13°C) | 0.6" | 0.0" | 9.8 | 0.2 |
| April | 81°F (27°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 0.2" | 0.0" | 2.8 | 3.7 |
| May | 90°F (32°C) | 49°F (9°C) | 69°F (21°C) | 0.2" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 16.1 |
| June | 99°F (37°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 78°F (26°C) | 0.3" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 28.2 |
| July | 98°F (36°C) | 66°F (19°C) | 82°F (28°C) | 2.6" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 27.4 |
| August | 95°F (35°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 80°F (27°C) | 2.8" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 26.3 |
| September | 92°F (33°C) | 58°F (15°C) | 75°F (24°C) | 1.6" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 20.2 |
| October | 84°F (29°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 0.7" | 0.0" | 1.4 | 7.7 |
| November | 73°F (23°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 0.5" | 0.0" | 12.7 | 0.3 |
| December | 64°F (18°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 0.9" | 0.0" | 24.5 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 0.8"
Snow: 0.2"
3.8 days with precipitation
February 0.6"
4.3 days with precipitation
March 0.6"
2.8 days with precipitation
April 0.2"
1.6 days with precipitation
May 0.2"
1.6 days with precipitation
June 0.3"
2.4 days with precipitation
July 2.6"
10.2 days with precipitation
August 2.8"
11.3 days with precipitation
September 1.6"
5.3 days with precipitation
October 0.7"
2.7 days with precipitation
November 0.5"
2.7 days with precipitation
December 0.9"
3.9 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
November 1
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
April 12
50% probability date
Growing Season
203 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
2,561
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
1,952
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
December
What Benson's climate means for you
Benson runs 63°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in December.
- Gardeners get about 203 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near April 12 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 2,561 heating and 1,952 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
- Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings
These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Benson, AZ
Benson, Arizona runs an annual average of 63°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 82°F to a mean daily low of 45°F, per NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while December is the coldest. Drawn from station USC00020683, these thirty-year averages smooth out year-to-year swings into a baseline for what a typical month looks like here.
Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. Benson receives roughly 11.8 inches of precipitation each year, with negligible snowfall. The frost-free season averages 203 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 12 and the first fall freeze near November 1. For energy use, 2,561 heating degree days and 1,952 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Benson scores 83/100 (Excellent), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows in the monthly tables above, summer brings July-driven heat, and winter brings December-driven cold - use that rhythm for planning. These figures are thirty-year averages rather than forecasts, so a specific year may still run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than what's shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Benson, AZ? ▼
The average annual temperature in Benson, Arizona is 63°F. The warmest month averages 99°F (37°C) and the coldest averages 27°F (-3°C).
How much rain does Benson get? ▼
Benson receives 11.8 inches of precipitation annually, including 0.2 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Benson? ▼
Benson has a climate comfort score of 83/100 (Excellent), milder than 85% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Benson? ▼
Benson has approximately 203 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around April 12 and the first fall freeze around November 1.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Benson? ▼
Benson has 2,561 heating degree days and 1,952 cooling degree days annually, a fairly balanced heating/cooling split. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Benson climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00020683 near Benson.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00020683. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.