Looking out my living room window on this 29th day of December, 2025; I see gray skies with wisps of white clouds battling for air space. Tiny glimpses of blue skies are present but enormously outnumbered by darker clouds, portending moisture?
Yes, the wild weather blowing in from the Pacific is providing Arizona with repeated rounds of precipitation. As is most known, rain rarely covers the entire state, but large areas have seen measurable drizzle and even snow in the higher elevations.
As winds jostle the branches of trees, causing remaining dried up leaves to fall, the scent of fresh air more than compensates for the brisk temperatures. Of course, ‘brisk temperatures’ have different definitions to residents and snowbirds. Arizona weather for many snowbirds means comfort compared to what weather they escaped back home; subzero temperatures, snow and ice with more cold to follow.
While here in Greenlee County, we are enjoying the return of migrating sandhill cranes and water foul as they travel here and even further south to enjoy our mostly sunny skies and abundant supply of surface water (our two major year-round rivers) the Gila and the San Francisco as well as food supplies perfect for these winged beauties.
Truly southeastern Arizona has much to offer not only to our snowbird guests, but also Tucsonans and Phoenicians seeking respite from clogged highways and ‘too many people’!
Which is why we invite you to come to Greenlee County this year. Bring a friend or an entire family. Hiking, biking, rock hounding, off-roading, historical sights, fishing and hunting are just some of the recreational activities people love about Greenlee.
Greenlee is also the perfect hub for expanded exploration of our six neighboring counties, three in Arizona, and three additional counties of Western New Mexico. We form the Magnificent Seven together and share centuries of history, tribes, culture and cuisines.
This is your invitation, explore our website for travel suggestions, sights, places to stay, souvenirs and considerably more than you would expect to experience over a weekend getaway.
With our kindest regards, Akos Kovach, Vice Chair, Greenlee Tourism Association