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SunnyDays

ERA5 almanac — 8 years of real data

Scottsdale Desert Ridge in August

Historically one of the better months to visit Scottsdale Desert Ridge for sun: 78% of days are clear on average (n=248, avg high 104°F). Every percentage here is a historical average from 8 years of ERA5 data — not a forecast.

What you are reading: 8-year historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis, not a forecast. A month that is historically 90% clear can still be overcast on your specific trip. For this week’s actual forecast, see the live Scottsdale Desert Ridge page. Both can be true at once: “historically strong in this month; this particular week is not.” We label which is which.

Early vs. Late August

Clear-sky percentage for Scottsdale Desert Ridge in August, split by half-month. “n” is the number of days sampled across 8 years (2018–2025).
Period % Clear days Sample (n) Avg high
Early August
1st–15th		 83% n=120 104°F
Late August
16th–end		 73% n=128 104°F
Full month average 78% n=248 104°F

Sunshine & warmth in August

A second measure using actual sunshine hours (ERA5 sunshine_duration), not the daily weather code. A Lowcountry day with 12 hours of sun and a 25-minute afternoon storm is counted below as a warm, sunny day — because it was. How we define this.

Sunshine-based metrics for Scottsdale Desert Ridge in August. Primary: % of days ≥ 72°F with > 6 h of sunshine.
Period Warm & sunny (≥72°F, >6 h sun) Sample (n)
Early August
1st–15th		 99% n=120
Late August
16th–end		 98% n=128
Full month average 98% n=248
12.9 h median sunshine per day 98% of days exceed 8 h sunshine 12% of days see ≥ 1 mm rain — rain is not hidden
Comparison (old vs new): WMO-code “clear” bar: 78%. Sunshine-based “warm & sunny”: 98%. The 20-point gap is from brief afternoon convective storms that stamp the whole day as “rain” in the WMO code but leave the bulk of the sunshine untouched.

Bottom line

Scottsdale Desert Ridge clears solidly in August: 78% of days historically (n=248), avg high 104°F. Most trips here in August will find more sun than cloud.

Every month in Scottsdale Desert Ridge

Compare across all months with data. Numbers are historical clear-sky %.

Historical clear-sky % for Scottsdale Desert Ridge, all months, ERA5 2018–2025.
Month % Clear Sample (n)
January 13% n=248 All destinations →
February 35% n=226 All destinations →
March 46% n=248 All destinations →
April 92% n=240 All destinations →
May 92% n=248 All destinations →
June 94% n=240 All destinations →
July 76% n=248 All destinations →
August ← this page 78% n=248 All destinations →
September 82% n=240 All destinations →
October 85% n=248 All destinations →
November 58% n=240 All destinations →
December 18% n=248 All destinations →

All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.