Moving to Phoenix From Texas: Heat, Monsoon and What to Know

Moving to Phoenix from Texas is a smaller leap than most moves, but a few things will feel different right away: the heat is drier, the rain is rare, and the clocks do not change. Houston and Dallas folks usually notice the humidity gap first, then the time zone, then the yards.

I'm Terry Day, and I help people relocate to the Valley. Here is what Texans tell me surprises them, plus what to line up before the truck arrives.

Dry heat is real, but it is still heat

The numbers explain why a 105 degree day in Phoenix feels different from a 98 degree day in Houston. According to the National Weather Service in Phoenix, the city averages 111 days a year at or above 100 degrees and 21 days at or above 110 (1991 to 2020 averages). Wikipedia's climate pages, which cite NOAA data, list a July average high near 106 in Phoenix, about 97 in Dallas and about 94 in Houston.

The difference is moisture. Those same pages show older NOAA averages for July dew point of roughly 56 degrees in Phoenix, about 68 in Dallas and about 72 in Houston. Lower dew points mean sweat evaporates, so shade really helps. It also means you can dehydrate without noticing, so carry water in the car and plan outdoor errands for early morning or evening in summer.

Monsoon storms are not Gulf Coast rain

Phoenix gets about 7 inches of rain in a typical year, compared with roughly 52 inches at Houston's Intercontinental Airport (1991 to 2020 normals). Rain here comes in short, strong bursts, most often during the summer monsoon. Dew points can climb above 70 degrees during strong monsoon activity, so a few muggy days may remind you of home.

Dust storms are the part to take seriously. The National Weather Service describes a Dust Storm Warning as a situation where you should pull off the road immediately. If you drive on the freeway in summer, read my guide to what surprises people moving from California, which covers dust storm driving steps in more detail.

Time zone and the clock change

Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year and does not spring forward, apart from the Navajo Nation. Most of Texas is on Central time, so the gap between your old home and your new one is one hour part of the year and two hours the rest. Calls with family and remote work schedules are the things that catch people. My post on whether Arizona observes Daylight Saving Time explains the history.

Paperwork and set-up checklist

You will need to handle your driver license and vehicle registration with the Arizona MVD, and you will need to set up power, gas and water at the new address. I covered both step by step so I will not repeat them here: driver license and car registration and setting up utilities. Tax rules also differ from state to state, so ask a tax professional how your move affects you.

Yards, pools and homes

Many Texans are used to green lawns. Here, desert landscaping with gravel, shade trees and drip irrigation is common, and I walk buyers through what each yard will need. If you are comparing neighborhoods, start with my Moving to Phoenix guide and the Valley city comparison, then use the cost of living page to plan your budget.

If you are ready to start looking, the buying page explains the steps for buying a home in Arizona, including when you are relocating from out of state.

Questions people ask

Is Phoenix really cooler than Texas in summer? No. Phoenix summers are hotter, with a July average high near 106 compared with the mid 90s in Houston and Dallas, but the air is much drier, so the heat feels different.

Does Arizona get hurricanes or the kind of rain Texas gets? Phoenix averages about 7 inches of rain a year, mostly in short monsoon storms, compared with about 52 inches in Houston. Dust storms and flash flooding are the local concerns instead.

Does Arizona change its clocks? No. Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time year round, except the Navajo Nation, which observes daylight saving time.

What should I do first after arriving? Set up utilities before move-in day, then visit the Arizona MVD for your license and registration, as covered in the guides above.