Check the long-term weather averages for Flagstaff in November before planning your visit. This page includes monthly and yearly temperatures as well as daily highs and lows.
Experience Flagstaff’s breathtaking autumn scenery by taking a scenic drive or hiking one of its trails, remembering to pack warm clothing and sunscreen to protect from sunrays.
Temperatures
Arizona temperatures vary significantly with altitude. While Phoenix and low-lying areas can experience scorching heat, driving to altitudes over 7,000 feet offers cooler conditions – and sometimes snow.
Flagstaff experiences an average high temperature in November of 56 degrees Fahrenheit, while its average low is 32. These cold temperatures provide ideal conditions for enjoying outdoor activities like winter sports and Flagstaff has several ski resorts that cater to all skill levels.
When visiting the mountains, be sure to pack plenty of warm clothing – including snowsuits for children – as the snow will reflect UV rays back from the sun’s rays and intensify any UV exposure. Furthermore, sunglasses with wide brims should also be considered essential.
Flagstaff generally experiences light winds; however, occasionally more powerful gusts will blow through on certain days each year. April tends to experience the strongest breezes with average top sustained speeds reaching 8 knots, considered gentle breeze.
Flagstaff offers plenty of snowy fun if you want to experience it, with the Arizona Snowbowl ski area located on the flanks of 12,635-foot-high Mount Humphreys – an extinct volcano which receives copious amounts of snow during winter storms that sweep across the desert. Typically opening its doors around mid-November and providing slopes suitable for all skill levels, it makes an unforgettable visit!
Snowfall
Flagstaff is one of Arizona’s snowiest towns, often seeing snow as early as October and lasting as late as April. This makes Flagstaff an excellent winter hiking and skiing destination, especially around Kaibab National Forest and Arizona Snowbowl ski area – particularly between December and February when its slopes offer optimal skiing opportunities.
Flagstaff typically sees over 75 inches of snow each year, although its total can vary considerably month to month and year to year. Some years see an abundance of new snow while other years may only produce nine or fewer new inches – for instance December can see over 27 inches fall at once!
Through Friday, a winter weather advisory is in effect in northern Coconino and Yavapai counties as well as portions of western Mogollon Rim. According to the weather service, a wintry mix could turn to snow by Wednesday evening at lower elevations bringing up to six inches in some spots; snow levels could drop up to 6,500 feet at higher elevations.
This page offers information on the typical annual snowfall for Flagstaff as well as monthly and yearly counts of days when significant amounts have fallen. There are also charts depicting how often temperatures reach certain thresholds in terms of degrees Fahrenheit.
Snow Reports
Flagstaff experiences significant snowfall each winter, making its snowfall reports invaluable in planning winter activities. These reports include information such as the number of days it snowed and how deep the accumulation was, plus monthly and yearly averages for how much snowfall is typical of Flagstaff.
The initial heavy snowfalls of winter typically arrive in November. Storms with such intensity have dumped up to one foot of snow in some locations. Winter typically ends around April, though November often features the highest concentration of days when it snows compared to any other month.
The City’s snow operations policy includes a system for prioritizing streets for plowing. Priority is given to major hills, intersections with traffic signals and railroad crossings that have traffic signals, railroad crossings and shaded areas – other roads may be ploughed as conditions allow; city equipment travels over 700 lane miles of road, 8 alley miles, 131 bicycle lanes 42 miles FUTS stations and 27,000 driveways on its journeys across this vast network.
Snowfall levels vary throughout the year, with February usually being the month with the deepest accumulation. Heavy snow can make movement extremely challenging; during July-March 2018, for instance, the city airport recorded 140.1 inches – second only to 153.9 inches recorded between 1948-49 seasons.
Weather
Flagstaff’s climate is characterized by cool temperatures and dry seasons. Snowfall is prevalent during the winter months. Additionally, temperatures here tend to remain much lower than in Phoenix; temperatures rarely surpass 89 degrees Fahrenheit but can become extremely warm on certain days.
Flagstaff offers an average summer temperature between 68 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the ideal place to escape Phoenix area heat and relax with hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities.
November is typically one of Flagstaff’s coldest months with temperatures reaching an average daily high temperature of 11 degC and night-time minimum temperatures averaging at -7 degC. Rainy days begin to increase by 4 days per month on average while overall rainfall remains relatively low.
Flagstaff’s high altitude plays an instrumental role in its climate. At over 7,000 feet (2,135 m), its environment includes ecosystems ranging from pinon-juniper studded plateaus to pinon juniper covered high desert, green alpine forest, and barren tundra. When spending time outdoors during warmer times of the day it is wise to drink plenty of water, apply sunscreen liberally, wear a hat, drink plenty of fluids regularly and take frequent breaks; too much time spent at altitude can lead to fatigue or shortness of breath – so taking frequent breaks is highly advised.
