Does it snow in Bisbee AZ? Bisbee is a really cool place where time seems to move slower, and you can live a relaxed and easy life.
It can get a bit pricey, but that is totally worth it. But what about the weather here?
Bisbee has a type of desert weather that is not extremely dry but still quite hot in the summer and not too cold in the winter.
So, does it snow in Bisbee, Arizona? Is it a good destination for your winter vacation? Let’s find out now!
Yes, it snows in Bisbee during the winter, mainly from January to March and sometimes in November and December, but it is rare and insignificant.
A Bit about the Weather in Bisbee, AZ
During the summer, the weather in Bisbee can become extremely hot, sometimes reaching temperatures above 100F.
The temperature for the whole year is usually around 61F. Bisbee does not get a lot of rain, only about 9-10 inches in a whole year.
Here is more about the average temperatures in Bisbee, AZ throughout the year:
| Month | Temperature (F) |
| Jan | 45 |
| Feb | 49.5 |
| Mar | 55.9 |
| Apr | 62.7 |
| May | 71.8 |
| Jun | 80.3 |
| Jul | 79.9 |
| Aug | 78.4 |
| Sep | 74.8 |
| Oct | 65.5 |
| Nov | 56.3 |
| Dec | 45.8 |
If you are planning your trip to Bisbee, it is also important to know the average maximum and minimum temperature throughout the year.
Here is a bit about average high and average low temperatures in Bisbee AZ.
| Month | Avg Low (F) | Avg High (F) |
| Jan | 29.9 | 62.1 |
| Feb | 32.2 | 68 |
| Mar | 36.9 | 74.3 |
| Apr | 43.4 | 80.3 |
| May | 51.9 | 88.6 |
| Jun | 61.9 | 97 |
| Jul | 68.2 | 95.1 |
| Aug | 66.7 | 92.6 |
| Sep | 60.1 | 90.3 |
| Oct | 47.3 | 83.7 |
| Nov | 38.5 | 74.5 |
| Dec | 31.7 | 62 |
Does It Snow in Bisbee AZ?
So, does Bisbee, AZ get snow? Yes, it does, but not a lot.
Usually, it only gets around 5 inches of snow each year, which is way less than the average of 28 inches in the country.
The main reason why there is not much snow in Bisbee is because it has a dry desert climate.
Here, summers are really hot and winters are pretty mild. Sometimes it gets cold enough for snow, but usually it does not stay cold long enough for a lot of snow to pile up.
How Much Precipitation Bisbee Gets?
Bisbee does not get a lot of rain and snow each year.
On average, it only gets about 19 inches of precipitation, less than the average of 38 inches in the United States.
This means there is less water in the air to make it snow. Bisbee has a ton of sunny days.
They get around 285 sunny days each year, which is more than the average in the U.S. (205 sunny days).
Fact: Bisbee does not get a lot of snow, and it might snow a little bit sometimes, but big snowstorms are pretty rare.
What are Winters Like in Bisbee, AZ?
During the winter, the weather usually gets as warm as 58°F during the day.
But sometimes, on the coldest days, it can drop down to around 44°F.
It is not very common for temperatures to drop below 44°F or go above 72°F, so the winter weather is usually pretty mild.
In December, the temperature usually averages around 37.2°F to 56.1°F on average. December is also when it gets sticky in Bisbee, with an average humidity of 49%.
During this time, it usually rains for about 5 days, and they get around half an inch of rain.
Fact: In Bisbee, it rains about 82 days out of the year, and the total amount of rain for the whole year is 11.85 inches.
How are Things in Summer?
To compare, June is the hottest month in Bisbee.
In June, when it is daytime, it can get really hot, with temperatures going up to around 97°F. But when the sun goes down, it gets cooler, with nighttime temperatures around 64°F.
So, you should be prepared for hot weather during the day in June but enjoy cooler evenings.
Why Is Snowfall So Rare in Bisbee, AZ?
Bisbee does not get much snow because of a few things, like where it is located and the climate there.
The city is located pretty high up in the Mule Mountains, about 5538 feet above sea level.
Because of this, it is not uncommon for the city to get some snow every now and then. But, it is rather rare, and there are a few reasons why it happens.
Location
First, Bisbee is located pretty far south at a latitude of 31°N. This means it does not experience cold air masses and storms very often during the winter.
Snow storms that happen in the middle part of the Earth, between the North and South Poles, start closer to the border of the United States and Canada. And then move towards the southeast.
When these systems get to southern Arizona, they are not as strong as before and do not have much water.
When cold fronts from the north move about 1500 miles south, they become less strong. Bisbee is located in the south, so it does not get cold enough for snow to form regularly.
Modest Elevation
Bisbee is lower than the nearby mountains, so it does not get as much snow.
Even though 5538 feet may seem really high, Bisbee is actually about 2,000 feet lower than Flagstaff, which is at about 7000 feet and gets a lot of snow.
Mountains have colder temperatures, which are important for creating and keeping snowstorms.
Fact: Bisbee is not very high up, so it does not get as cold in the winter, and instead of being really freezing, it is just a little above freezing.
Rain Shadow Effect
Bisbee is located on the side of the mountains and does not get much rain because the mountains block the rain clouds coming from the Pacific Ocean.
When air moves up over mountains, it creates rain or snow, meaning Bisbee does not get much precipitation because it is on the other side of the mountains.
When there is not enough moisture in the air, it makes it hard for a big snowstorm to form, even if it is really cold outside.
Fact: The semi-dry climate in Bisbee only gets about 22 inches of rain each year.
The Impact of West-East Oriented Canyons
The canyons in Bisbee run from west to east, which means that warm winds can come down from the mountains and make the temperatures rise.
Instead of channels carrying really cold air, the Mule Canyon alignment allows warm Chinook winds to come down the slopes on the other side.
These warm Santa Ana winds make the snow melt and stop snowstorms from happening by making the temperature go above freezing.
The Urban Heat Island Effect
The urban heat island effect in Bisbee makes it too warm for snow to happen often.
Even though Bisbee is not very big, the buildings, roads, and other structures in the developed areas there release the heat they absorb during the day at night.
This makes the temperature stay warmer at night, compared to nearby rural areas, because it prevents the important cooling that usually happens during nighttime.
The Best Time to Visit Bisbee, AZ
In case you are interested in visiting Bisbee, you should learn about the best time to come to make it more enjoyable.
When you should plan, your trip depends heavily on what you want to do on your visit.
For instance:
| Time of Year | Weather Conditions | Activities |
| September | Warm, pleasant weather with limited rain | Perfect for outdoor dining, leisurely walks, and sightseeing |
| October | Warm and sunny | Great for exploring shops, art galleries, and restaurants |
| November | Mild climate, less sticky, and minimal rain | Perfect for exploring the town’s history, arts, and culture |
The Best Activities to Do in Bisbee, AZ
No matter the time you visit Bisbee, there is always so much to do and enjoy in this part of the world.
For instance:
| Activity | Description |
| Historic Downtown Tour | Walk around Brewery Gulch and Main St. to explore Bisbee’s early 1900s architecture, murals, and historic stores. |
| Lavender Pit Viewpoint | Discover the breathtaking half-mile-wide, 1000-foot-deep open-pit copper mine showing the dramatic mining history of Bisbee. |
| Art Galleries | Discover Bisbee’s rich arts sector in its many historic galleries, boutiques, and studios. |
| Dining Al Fresco | Have a nice meal at the restaurants with outdoor seating on Main Street on mild winter days. |
Takeaway
Does it snow in Bisbee AZ? Bisbee does not get a lot of snow because it is not very high up. It is in the south and is protected from rain by nearby mountains.
Although the mountains near Bisbee sometimes get a lot of snow, the city itself usually only gets less than an inch of snow each year.
When you compare Bisbee to other places in Arizona that are higher up, wetter, cloudier, and farther north, it is pretty unlikely for it to snow in Bisbee.
