by Ray Langley

Created on: April 06, 2010

 Seasonal Guide to the Weather in Scottsdale, Arizona

 Picturesque Scottsdale, Arizona stretches lazily along the Eastern border of the city of Phoenix, Arizona, as not only a destination in its own right, but with unspoiled desert, that roll away in breezy hills covered with sunshine, it posses its own unique weather conditions. Outside of the Heat vortex of Phoenix, Scottsdale’s downtown, and old town benefit from the cool breeze from the Roosevelt canal, carried through the tree lined community providing a shaded break from the hot, fast metropolis next door. From the rich green lawns of South Scottsdale up to the subtle transition to the Northern desert landscaping the weather can be vastly different.

 The rolling hills that rise from the south, keep the breeze moving through the botanical streets of Scottsdale, before flattening into desert beige. The pipe springs roll out the green lawns and cool air beneath the many trees, making a stroll in Scottsdale a pleasure even in the triple digit heat from May until September.  Downtown/Old town Scottsdale has many shops and cafes to duck into for a quick cool off, before continuing on ones exploration of one of the original old west towns. With the sights, food and entertainment to delight all, the heat is the last thing that comes to mind.

 The summer season is elongated from May until October, where the average Scottsdale temperature is well in the nineties, spiking into triple digits during the traditional summer months. The comfortable weather does give way to fits of torrential rains that can cause flash flooding at the bottom of the Scottsdale hills. These bouts of rain are short, and city services are quick to blockade any roadways that have become dangerous. Never, drive around a barricade into a flooded street. At best, the driver can receive a ticket for “failure to obey a traffic control device” (the barricade considered a traffic control device, as well as signs that warn not to enter flooded streets.)  More then a few times a year people are in need of rescue from their vehicles that rushing waters have consumed, and the city does charge the cost of the rescue to the persons found to be at fault.

 The many shops and restaurants that fill the rustic Scottsdale streets, as well as the manicured tree lined neighborhoods, and rolling green parks, all compliment the warm sunny days of the modern desert oasis that is Scottsdale, Arizona.

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