Yuma weather by month: what each month means for your golf

Month by month, Yuma's weather splits the golf year into two seasons. From November to April highs run from about 68F to 86F with little rain, which is why winter visitors come. From May to September highs climb from 94F to about 107F and golf becomes a dawn activity. October is the switch, at about 90F.

The figures below are NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Yuma airfield (station USW00003145, shared by MCAS Yuma and Yuma International Airport, about 5 miles south of downtown). They are long-term averages, not a forecast, so any given week can run warmer or cooler. Each month has a short note on what it means for your round and what to wear.

Quick facts

• Mildest golf months: November to April (highs about 68F to 86F).
• Coolest mornings: December, about 47F.
• Hottest: July, about 107F high and 83F low.
• Annual rain: about 3.3 inches; wettest month September (0.68 in).
• Wind: no official monthly normals for Yuma.

Yuma weather by month: the NOAA table

"Days with rain" counts days with at least 0.01 inch.

Winter: December to February

Winter is mild and dry, the most comfortable stretch of the year for golf. December is the coolest month, with a 68F high and a 47F low, and January is close at 70F and 48F. February warms to 73F and 50F. Each month averages two to three days with measurable rain, so you lose few rounds to weather.

What it means for golf: the first tee times are chilly, but frost is not normal. Short December days push tee sheets toward late morning and midday, and winter sunset is around 5:30 PM. This is peak winter-visitor season, so the weather is not the hard part; getting a tee time is.

What to wear: layers. Start with a warm mid-layer or vest over a golf shirt and expect to strip down by the turn. A light jacket covers the rare rainy day. Read Yuma golf in January for a full January plan.

Spring: March and April

March reaches about 80F with 55F lows, and April about 86F with 60F lows and less than one rain day. Rye is still in good shape and, after Easter, tee times open up. April is also the driest month of the November to April season.

What it means for golf: these are excellent golf months. In April the afternoons get warm, so book mornings. See Yuma golf in March.

What to wear: short sleeves for most of the round, a light layer for early March mornings, and a hat and sunscreen from now on.

Summer: May to September

May averages 94F, June 103F, July 107F, August 106F and September 101F. July and August lows sit around 83F, so mornings never really cool off. June is the driest month of the year at 0.01 inches. From July to September monsoon humidity and the odd thunderstorm with lightning and dust arrive, and September is, on average, the wettest month at 0.68 inches.

What it means for golf: courses stay open at their lowest rates, but golf is a first-light activity. Take the earliest tee time, ride a cart, carry far more water than usual and finish before late morning. The Foothills Par 3 adds lighted night golf Tuesday to Saturday. Our Yuma summer golf guide has the rates and hours.

What to wear: the lightest, most breathable golf clothes you own, a wide-brimmed hat, and sun protection.

Fall: October and November

October cools to about 90F highs and 66F lows. It is overseed month: most courses close or run nine holes for a few weeks and reopen on new rye in the second half of the month. Mesa del Sol does not overseed and stays open. Read Yuma golf overseed before you book.

November is one of the best golf months of the year: about 78F highs, 54F lows, about one rain day and fresh rye. Winter visitors arrive through the month.

What to wear: short sleeves in October, with a light layer for November mornings.

Town vs the Foothills

The NOAA station is at the airfield about 5 miles south of downtown, on the town side of Yuma with city courses such as Desert Hills. The Foothills courses, including Las Barrancas and Mesa del Sol, sit about 15 miles east and slightly higher, at about 120 m against 65 m at the airfield. No measured normals exist for the Foothills, so any difference is not known. Las Barrancas is the hilliest course in the Foothills group; the Las Barrancas course guide covers its terrain, and the Desert Hills course guide the city course.

The daily swing: morning vs afternoon

The gap between the overnight low and the afternoon high is wide all year. From the normals:

In winter that means a dawn tee time starts near the overnight low, about 20F below the afternoon high, which is why layers matter more than any single jacket. In July and August, with lows above 82F, there is no cool part of the day, only a less hot one.

A simple packing list by season

• November to February: golf shirts, a warm mid-layer or vest, a light wind or rain jacket, a warm hat for dawn starts.
• March and April: short sleeves, one light layer, sunscreen, a hat.
• May to October: the lightest breathable clothing you have, a wide-brimmed hat, sun protection and plenty of water.

Use the monthly table above to check the month you are packing for.

What about wind?

NOAA has no 1991-2020 hourly normals for this station, which is where wind averages come from, and no official long-term monthly wind table could be found. Third-party monthly wind figures exist but are unsourced or modelled, so this guide does not quote them. Check the forecast on the morning of your round.

Turning Yuma's monthly weather into a plan

• Best weather and value: November and April.
• Peak conditions and peak crowds: January to March.
• Cheapest golf: June to September, at dawn.
• Plan around: October overseed.

The best time to golf in Yuma weighs weather against crowds and rates, and Yuma golf in November covers the start of the season. If you are comparing climates, see Mesquite golf weather by month and St. George golf weather.

Plan it on the map

The Yuma golf map shows the season notes for every course, so you can match the weather of your month to the courses that are playing. The $30 plan builds a day-by-day trip for your dates, or a whole winter stay with a weekly course rotation.