Moving from Ottawa to Phoenix
A climate comparison of two homes: Ontario to Arizona. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Your growing season runs 196 days longer, 158 days becomes 354 days.
Ottawa, ON to Phoenix, AZ
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frost-free season | 158 days | 354 days | 196 days longer |
| Last spring frost | April 30 | January 8 | 112 days earlier |
| Coldest month | -10C in January | 12C in December | 22C warmer |
| Months below freezing | 4 months | 0 months | 4 fewer |
| Warmest month | 21C in July | 34C in July | 12C hotter |
Moving from Ottawa to Phoenix reshapes the home year. Winters get 22C warmer. Summers get 12C hotter. Your growing season is 196 days longer. Plan on a new rhythm for the house and garden.
What changes about the house
- Heating: expect a longer or deeper heating season. Service the furnace or boiler before the first cold snap, and budget for higher heating bills.
- Cooling: hotter peaks make air conditioning or shading more important. Check attic insulation and window sealing so the house does not trap heat.
- Garden: a longer frost-free season opens more crop choices and succession sowings. Raised beds warm earlier in spring.
- Snow and ice: fewer freezing months reduce roof and driveway risk, but one surprise storm still happens. Keep basic winter tools for the odd freeze.
Season by season
Spring starts earlier
Your last spring frost moves from April 30 to January 8, 112 days earlier. Start planting and outdoor prep sooner.
Summers run hotter
The warmest month goes from 21C in July to 34C in July. Air conditioning, shading, and cooling-load planning matter more.
Winters turn milder
Winter coldest month goes from -10C in January to 12C in December; freezing months go from 4 months to 0 months. Budget for more heating, snow removal, and ice-dam prevention.
Tools for both places
Moving from Ottawa to Phoenix, answered
What is the biggest climate change from Ottawa to Phoenix?
Your growing season runs 196 days longer, 158 days becomes 354 days. That is the largest shift in the 30-year climate record.
How are these numbers computed?
From official 30-year climate normals at the nearest station to each place: Ottawa Cda near Ottawa and Phoenix Deer Valley Muni Ap near Phoenix. They are planning averages, not forecasts; local microclimates can run a week or two off the station record.
Does the comparison work in reverse?
Yes. Open the comparison tool and swap the two places; the deltas reverse direction but the match score stays the same.
Method and sources
Temperatures and frost dates are from the 30-year climate normals at Ottawa Cda (near Ottawa, ON) and Phoenix Deer Valley Muni Ap (near Phoenix, AZ). Canadian data is from Environment and Climate Change Canada; United States data is from NOAA NCEI. These are planning averages, not forecasts. See the methodology page for the full calculation.