A significant feature of the arid climate in the Southwest U.S. is the large daily temperature swings.

In desert regions like Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, the absence of moisture in the air leads to drastic temperature changes from day to night. During the day, the sun heats the land rapidly, causing temperatures to rise sharply. However, at night, the lack of cloud cover and moisture causes heat to escape quickly, resulting in a significant drop in temperature. This creates a notable contrast between the hot daytime highs and much cooler nighttime lows, which is typical of arid desert climates.