What to wear in Arizona in mid-February
 

We are leaving cold, windy Washington DC for 10 days in Arizona - 2/15-2/25. Will be in Tucson, Phoenix and Sedona. What are people wearing there in February? Sandals? White pants? T-shirts? What kind of temps can I expect. My spring and summer clothes are packed away, but I guess I better get them out. Thanks so much.

Sedona will be pretty cold at night. Not DC cold but around freezing. Day temps could be mid to upper 50's.

Layers are the way to go in the Southwest. We have been having odd weather, it rained in Phoenix last weekend. It was 70 today in Albuquerque, so the temps could be anywhere.

Personally, I wouldn't wear white pants, but then I never do, even in summer.

You can do a google search for average temps, but be prepared for anything. Weather is a-changing!

As for your question - think more spring than summer as far as clothes are concerned and then think layers.

If you use a site like wunderground, you can get the monthly projections. The Flagstaff area has averages very close to DC in February (but it's a dry cold). Tucson and Phoenix are a bit warmer but not usually hot in February.

Actually one April we went through snow a bit north of Flagstaff.

Bring layers.

Phoenix is generally warmest, Tucson will likely be about 10º cooler, Sedona cooler yet. So, I agree with the layers concept. With 3 variable destinations, it's the only answer.

In Tucson the last two years we wore spring clothes with a fleece layer for evenings.

Thanks - yes, I was thinking more spring than summer. It is February after all. You have been very helpful.

It's a warmer winter than usual in Tucson , jeans, cotton slacks, a jacket at night.

Thanks Happy Trvlr - that was my plan. We will be very very happy to have some warm weather.

However, the last time I was up in Sedona in March, there was a snowstorm so be prepared.
And no white pants in the wintet.

Don't go by current conditions, or even by "averages". "Normal" for Tucson in mid-Febuary is low 40's at night and around 70 for highs. But check the normals and extremes on this national weather service site. We have had high temps as low as mid-40's and lows in the teens and highs as high as 90.

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

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/climate/records/febR.php -- extremes

So, I would suggest not start packing until you can get a fairly reliable 10 day forecast.

<And no white pants in the wintet.> (sic)

Nonsense. Winter white is a staple everywhere, at least since the turn of the century.

Perhaps it would be best to confine oneself to questions of temperature and weather and avoid matters of style?

"...avoid matters of style?"

Absurd. That very question was included in the original post, no reason whatever to avoid it if one has an opinion.

<no reason whatever to avoid it if one has an opinion.>
The rallying cry of these boards, more and more. And everyone has one, as they say. Carry on, wearers of cotton slacks, lol.

Snarky stuff belongs in the Lounge.

Bargem, I hope it is warm enough here in Arizona that your white pants and sandals will be right in place.

Oh dear, I didn't mean to start a fuss. My white summer pants and cropped pants will stay packed away til summer here. I do care about syle - I hate to look out of place. But I've gotten some good advice here and will bring one pair of sandals and some comfy flats, jeans, light weight black pants, some light weight tops, a few jackets, and a Pashmina shawl. Of course there is always shopping. Thanks again.

I wouldn't leave the white pants at home for any reason to do with fashion, but because they're least likely to be presentable for a second wearing. It's good to travel light and also to have space, as you say, for shopping. I do think any color goes for resort wear these days.

As the Boy Scouts say "Be Prepared". The past couple of days it has hit 80* in Yuma. For all I know there may be some snow left in Flagstaff.