Arizona in winter

Old Oct 20th, 2016, 01:05 PM
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Arizona in winter

My husband and I would like to escape the cold of the northeast this winter. We've been to FL too many times and were thinking of a place out west. I've heard good things about Sedona and Scottsdale. Would the weather be nice, say 70's? Also if we had a week could be also add in Bryce Canyon and Zion? Any suggestions?
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Old Oct 20th, 2016, 01:22 PM
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Scotsdale and Sedona would be entirely different. Sedona would be quite a bit colder and snow is possible. Phoenix/Scottsdale would be warmer.

Bryce is very high elevation and would definitely have snow.

Zion is a mile lower and while it snows, it normally doesn't last.
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Old Oct 20th, 2016, 01:39 PM
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The big drawback to Scottsdale is that it is in the middle of Phoenix. I would head further south - Tucson.
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Old Oct 20th, 2016, 01:42 PM
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>>I would head further south - Tucson.
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Old Oct 20th, 2016, 01:55 PM
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You can check weather records, but I don't think you'd get temps in the 70s in any of these cities in January/February. Temps after sunset would drop to the 40s or even 30s.

Palm Springs would be a bit warmer during the day, but overnight temps would still drop to the 40s. San Diego could have some days in the 70s, and overnight temps would drop to only the 50s.
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Old Oct 20th, 2016, 01:57 PM
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If you really want warm weather, consider Cabo San Lucas.
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Old Oct 20th, 2016, 05:53 PM
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In Arizona, we also like Tuscon and SE Arizona in the winter. You will find a lot to do and explore if you get a good guide book.

HTtY
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Old Oct 20th, 2016, 08:01 PM
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We lived in Tucson for several years and agree it's a better option than Scottsdale/Phoenix. Temperatures, of course, will and can vary from norm but, generally, it should be mid/ upper 60's, low 70's. It will cool down at night but quickly warm up. There's a lot to do in the Tucson area and plenty of good restaurants, museums, art galleries etc. We enjoyed our time there and only moved back to Colorado when the grandchildren started arriving.
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Old Oct 20th, 2016, 11:41 PM
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Jean recommended Cabo San Lucas
Very warm and touristy

Another suggestion:
Puerto Penasco in the state of Sonora, Mexico southwest of Tuscon.

Vaga
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Old Oct 21st, 2016, 07:56 AM
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For more info on Tucson / Southern Arizona, including things to see and do, check my blog (slightly out of date, but pretty comprehensive).

http://mikepintucson.blogspot.com/
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Old Oct 21st, 2016, 11:04 AM
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My most recent trip to Arizona (Feb 2015) involved taking the Sunset Limited overnight from Los Angeles to Tucson and then renting a car to go back to Yuma.
There is an annual event for several hundred geocachers along the bank of the Colorado River in Yuma.
I haven't decided if I am going again in February.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 10:45 AM
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Any desert (including PS) in winter the tempsOvernight dropinto freezing or near freezing, daytime can range from chilly to frosty especially before about 10 am to pleasant. The coast is warmer. What about San Diego?
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 02:16 PM
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Having lived in Tucson I don't ever remember temperatures dropping below freezing. It might happen, but it's rare, and it certainly warms up quickly. Never wore much more than a light weight fleece or sweater for early morning runs and bike rides. We frequently swam late mornings.

In regard to San Diego, having made numerous trips there, we have often thought that temperatures during late fall and winter were almost warm enough. Actually, being on the coast it will be cooler both summer and winter. It's that thing about being near water.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 03:22 PM
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Actually, being near the coast your extreme temps are moderated at both hte low and high end by the Pacific.

A dry climate with no cloud cover or humiditycools off very rapidly at night. Water vapor..cloud cover acts like a blanket to trap radiated heat. Where there are no clouds in the desert at night it can very easily drop below freezing even after a warm day.

If you don't ever remember freeze warnings in tucson you might have a go at Google

http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/2...0/freeze-watch
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 04:19 PM
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Inland, think elevation = temperature. The higher you go, the cooler it is.

Scottsdale - 1200'
Tucson - 2550'
Sedona - 4300'
Flagstaff - 6900'

Then check here for monthly averages: http://www.weatherbase.com/

Having lived near Tucson for 25 years, it wouldn't be my first choice for a reliably warm winter vacation.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 05:40 PM
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I'm not posting to argue science or the reliability of winter temperatures. I do offer advice and opinions gathered from experience. If winter temperatures lack credibility in being reasonably pleasant, then why do so many head there during the winter months ?

Perhaps the OP would be better served by actually researching average winter temperatures in various places. If looking for some place within the U.S. borders, Arizona and Florida seem to be obvious choices, even inland Southern California would work or southern New Mexico, although I can't think of any place I'd stay ( southern New Mexico ) for more than a few days.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 05:49 PM
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"...why do so many head there during the winter months ?"

I've wondered that myself. Maybe for the same reason I saw snowbirds in shorts while I was wearing fleece. Anyplace over freezing feels warmer than where they came from.

"Perhaps the OP would be better served by actually researching average winter temperatures in various places."

Which is why I provided a link to do just that, just above your post.

"...even inland Southern California would work or southern New Mexico..."

I agree that the Southern California desert (Palm Springs, etc.) would be a better choice than either southern AZ or NM. Or even coastal Southern CA.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 05:51 PM
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"Or even coastal Southern CA."

Ambiguous. I meant Coastal So. CA would be better, IME, than So. AZ or So. NM.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 09:11 PM
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Yes do have a look at the weather links also. Although look at average miniums. or "number of days below freezing"

Golfers and gardeners tend to be well aware of frost warnings.I've experienced enough frozen water on north facing patios and frost delays) to know that it also happens around Palm Springs and even inland in southern California..although almost never near the coast.

http://gogolfarizona.com/we-feel-you...-frost-delays/

"During the winter months, it is not uncommon for golf courses in and around Tucson to experience below freezing temperatures, forcing golf operations staff to declare a frost delay. This is done to protect the course from certain damage if players and carts were to venture onto the fairways and greens."
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Old Oct 23rd, 2016, 07:52 AM
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Here is a link to National Weather Service historical data on Tucson's temperatures. clicking on links under "normals", "extremes" and "expandd" will give you a good idea of what to expect and what to be prepared to experience.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/climate/tus.php

I have lived here for 50 years and it does, indeed, go below freezing frequently during the Winter. Within the last few years, we have had nighttime temperatures in the teens. There have also been some Winters where we only had a handful of nights below freezing. And, yes, it does warm up rapidly during the day.
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