Editing Payson, Arizona (section)

==Climate==
Owing to its elevation of {{convert|5000|ft}}, Payson is in a transitional area between a [[hot-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csa'') and a [[cold semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk''). The town straddles USDA [[Hardiness Zone]] 7b and 8a, and it is surrounded by high desert [[pinyon-juniper woodland]]s, [[Pinus ponderosa|ponderosa pine]], and the [[Mixed coniferous forest|mixed conifer forests]] of the [[Mogollon Rim]] escarpment.

Winter is often sunny with mild, breezy days and cold nights. In December and January, nighttime lows typically fall below {{convert|32|°F|0}}—with the coldest nights of the year falling below {{convert|20|°F|0}}. By mid-afternoon, however, average daytime temperatures surpass {{convert|50|°F|0}}. While most winter precipitation falls as rain, Payson receives an average of {{convert|18.5|in|mm}} of snow each year, spread across six days of measurable snowfall. Snow melts rapidly, and any lingering snow cover is minimal.<ref name="NOAA"/> In December 1967, Payson experienced a record-breaking snowfall, with more than {{convert|6|ft|m}} of snow falling over eight days. Locally referred to as the "Storm of the Century," the 1967 event caused immense disruption and damage in the area—downing trees, toppling power lines, and caving in roofs. <ref>{{cite web |title=Remembering the 'Big Snow' |date=December 23, 2009 |url=https://www.paysonroundup.com/remembering-the-big-snow/article_d44d4dbe-a597-5e46-972e-ecc793da6871.html |publisher=Payson Roundup |access-date=March 18, 2025}}</ref> 

[[File:Payson SW01.jpg|thumb|left|Town lake in snow]]

Spring weather in Payson is windy and highly variable—with warm, sometimes hot weather intermixed with late-season snowfall and rain. Colorful wildflowers are common in the spring. Blooms include [[Gaillardia|blanketflowers]], [[Asteraceae|daisies]], [[Aquilegia chrysantha|golden columbines]], [[Sphaeralcea|globemallows]], [[Iris (plant)|irises]], [[Lupinus|lupines]], [[Penstemon|penstemons]], [[Eschscholzia californica|poppies]], [[Oenothera|primroses]], [[Helianthus |sunflowers]], [[Verbena gooddingii|vervains]], [[Erysimum|wallflowers]], and the golds and fuchsias of [[Cactus|cactus]] flowers.

While average summer daytime temperatures climb above {{convert|90|°F|0}}, the town's elevation keeps it protected from the extreme heat found in Arizona's lowland deserts. Early summer is characterized by hot and dry weather, with elevated [[List of Arizona wildfires|wildfire risk]], whereas mid-to-late summer is tempered by the [[North American Monsoon]]. The monsoon brings frequent, sometimes severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and flash floods. On average, Payson receives {{convert|7|in}} of monsoonal moisture—approximately 35% of its annual precipitation—across the months of July, August, and September.

Autumn is characterized by stable weather and gradually cooling temperatures. Fall foliage peaks from late October through mid-November, and colors are most vibrant in the escarpment canyons of the [[Mogollon Rim]] and nearby [[Riparian zone|riparian zones]]. 

[[Diurnal air temperature variation|Diurnal temperature variation]] is large throughout the year. 

<div style="width: 85%;">
{{Weather box|location = Payson, Arizona (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1940–present)
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high F = 77
|Feb record high F = 80
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 106
|Jul record high F = 107
|Aug record high F = 104
|Sep record high F = 103
|Oct record high F = 94
|Nov record high F = 83
|Dec record high F = 77
|year record high F =107
| Jan avg record high F = 66.9
| Feb avg record high F = 68.4
| Mar avg record high F = 75.6
| Apr avg record high F = 82.9
| May avg record high F = 90.2
| Jun avg record high F = 97.8
| Jul avg record high F = 99.8
| Aug avg record high F = 97.6
| Sep avg record high F = 92.9
| Oct avg record high F = 86.3
| Nov avg record high F = 75.3
| Dec avg record high F = 66.9
|year avg record high F = 101.1
|Jan high F = 56.1
|Feb high F = 58.5
|Mar high F = 65.1
|Apr high F = 71.6
|May high F = 80.0
|Jun high F = 90.2
|Jul high F = 92.5
|Aug high F = 90.5
|Sep high F = 85.9
|Oct high F = 75.9
|Nov high F = 64.3
|Dec high F = 54.9
|year high F =73.8

|Jan mean F = 41.0
|Feb mean F = 43.0
|Mar mean F = 48.4
|Apr mean F = 53.8
|May mean F = 61.4
|Jun mean F = 70.5
|Jul mean F = 76.0
|Aug mean F = 74.8
|Sep mean F = 68.9
|Oct mean F = 58.3
|Nov mean F = 47.7
|Dec mean F = 40.2
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 26.0
|Feb low F = 27.7
|Mar low F = 31.6
|Apr low F = 36.0
|May low F = 42.8
|Jun low F = 50.8
|Jul low F = 59.5
|Aug low F = 59.2
|Sep low F = 51.9
|Oct low F = 40.6
|Nov low F = 31.0
|Dec low F = 25.6
|year low F =40.2
| Jan avg record low F = 14.0
| Feb avg record low F = 17.9
| Mar avg record low F = 21.3
| Apr avg record low F = 26.3
| May avg record low F = 33.5
| Jun avg record low F = 41.4
| Jul avg record low F = 51.0
| Aug avg record low F = 52.2
| Sep avg record low F = 41.9
| Oct avg record low F = 30.2
| Nov avg record low F = 19.5
| Dec avg record low F = 14.5
|year avg record low F = 11.7
|Jan record low F = -8
|Feb record low F = 1
|Mar record low F = 3
|Apr record low F = 15
|May record low F = 22
|Jun record low F = 31
|Jul record low F = 39
|Aug record low F = 37
|Sep record low F = 33
|Oct record low F = 16
|Nov record low F = 6
|Dec record low F = -9
|year record low F= -9
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.27
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.33
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.89
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.82
|May precipitation inch = 0.54
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.21
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.81
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.60
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.54
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.26
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.48
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.09
|year precipitation inch = 19.84
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch
|Jan precipitation days = 5.3
|Feb precipitation days = 5.8
|Mar precipitation days = 5.0
|Apr precipitation days = 3.0
|May precipitation days = 2.6
|Jun precipitation days = 1.4
|Jul precipitation days = 8.8
|Aug precipitation days = 11.1
|Sep precipitation days = 5.0
|Oct precipitation days = 4.3
|Nov precipitation days = 3.9
|Dec precipitation days = 5.6
|Jan snow inch = 4.7
|Feb snow inch = 4.9
|Mar snow inch = 2.0
|Apr snow inch = 2.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 1.3
|Dec snow inch = 3.6
|year snow inch = 18.5
|unit snow days = 0.1 inch
|Jan snow days = 1.6
|Feb snow days = 1.3
|Mar snow days = 0.8
|Apr snow days = 0.4
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.5
|Dec snow days = 1.3

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00093139&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title=U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Payson, AZ
|access-date=December 31, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name=NOWData>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=fgz
|publisher=National Weather Service
|title=NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Flagstaff
|access-date=December 31, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}
</div>