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Arizona State Climate & Landforms

People think "desert" when Arizona is mentioned, but in truth it is diverse, with mountains, pine forests, chaparral, grasslands, rivers and lakes as well as arid lands. Three regions subdivide the state: the northernmost Colorado Plateau, middle Transition Zone, and southern Basin and Range.

Mountains
- Broad basins are separated by mountain ranges in southern Arizona.
  
  Mountains exist in all regions, varying in height and vegetation type. Arizona's highest point is Mount Humphreys (north of Flagstaff) at 12,633 feet elevation. Mountains alternating with broad basins characterize the southern Basin and Range region.
Canyons
- The Colorado River is at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
  
  The Grand Canyon north of Flagstaff is the deepest canyon in the state, dropping 5000 feet at its deepest. Other scenic canyons are Canyon de Chelly and Oak Creek Canyon.
Buttes and Mesas
- Monument Valley contains eroded geological formations.
  
  Eroded landscapes of pinnacles, buttes and mesas occur in Monument Valley in northern Arizona and Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona.
Seasons
- Lake Havasu City has reached a summer high of 128 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
  Desert summers are hot, with triple digit temperatures likely from May through September. Lake Havasu City has the highest recorded temperature of 128 degrees Fahrenheit. Desert winters are mild. Mountains with elevations above 5500 feet have forests have temperate climate seasons and temperatures. Hawley Lake experienced the state's low of -40 degrees Fahrenheit in 1971.
Precipitation
- Higher elevations get some precipitation as snow.
  
  Summer monsoons extend from July through September. Winter rains come in November through April. Average annual rainfall for deserts is five to 15 inches. Forested areas receive 15 to over 35 inches, some as snow.

Nature