Palm Springs, CA Climate & Monthly Averages

California, United States 🇺🇸 · hot desert climate
Annual avg
75°
Hottest month
July
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
20
Sunshine
11.3 h/day
Right now: 117° and overcast - see live conditions

The climate of Palm Springs

Palm Springs works on a dry budget: 7.6 inches (194 mm) of precipitation a year, spread over roughly 20 days. Temperature does the varying instead, from 66°F (19°C) on a typical January afternoon to 106°F (41°C) in July, with nights 12°C below the day.

Climate quick facts

  • Hottest month: July - highs near 106°F (41°C)
  • Coldest month: January - highs near 66°F (19°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 120°F (49°C) high · 31°F (-1°C) low
  • Wettest month: January (4 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (13.7 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: hot desert
  • Annual swing: 20°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 12°C
  • Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 6
  • Average humidity: 30%

Temperatures through the year

January sits at the other end of the year: 66°F (19°C) by day, 49°F (10°C) at night. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 106°F (41°C) by day and 83°F (28°C) overnight. Relative humidity averages 30% across the year, drier than almost anywhere else we cover.

Rain, sun and snow

8 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running April through November. Sunshine averages 11.3 hours a day over the year - sunnier than almost anywhere else we cover, peaking in June at 13.7 hours. Five of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is November through March. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 120°F (49°C) and the lowest daily minimum 31°F (-1°C).

How Palm Springs compares

  • Rain or snow reaches the ground on 20 days a year - fewer wet days than almost every other city we track.
  • Annual precipitation is 7.6 inches (194 mm) - drier than all but 4% of the 3496 cities we track.
  • Afternoons run 12°C above the following night - a bigger day-to-night gap than 91% of the 3496 cities we track.

Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.

Monthly climate table

Monthly averages for Palm Springs based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 66° 49° 4 1.8 in 8.7 h/day 41%
February 70° 51° 3 1.5 in 9.7 h/day 35%
March 75° 54° 3 1.1 in 11.0 h/day 37%
April 85° 61° 1 0.3 in 12.2 h/day 29%
May 90° 65° 1 0.1 in 13.3 h/day 30%
June 101° 76° 0 0.0 in 13.7 h/day 23%
July 106° 83° 1 0.2 in 13.6 h/day 25%
August 105° 82° 1 0.3 in 12.7 h/day 25%
September 98° 75° 1 0.3 in 11.6 h/day 27%
October 88° 65° 1 0.2 in 10.8 h/day 26%
November 75° 55° 1 0.4 in 9.8 h/day 27%
December 66° 49° 3 1.2 in 8.5 h/day 36%

Palm Springs month by month

Palm Springs weather in January

January brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 49°F (10°C), about 4 wet days - typically the coldest month and the wettest month of the year in Palm Springs.

Palm Springs weather in February

February brings highs around 70°F (21°C), lows near 51°F (10°C), about 3 wet days.

Palm Springs weather in March

March brings highs around 75°F (24°C), lows near 54°F (12°C), about 3 wet days.

Palm Springs weather in April

April brings highs around 85°F (29°C), lows near 61°F (16°C), about 1 wet days.

Palm Springs weather in May

May brings highs around 90°F (32°C), lows near 65°F (19°C), about 1 wet days.

Palm Springs weather in June

June brings highs around 101°F (39°C), lows near 76°F (24°C), about 0 wet days - typically the driest month and the sunniest month of the year in Palm Springs.

Palm Springs weather in July

July brings highs around 106°F (41°C), lows near 83°F (28°C), about 1 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Palm Springs.

Palm Springs weather in August

August brings highs around 105°F (41°C), lows near 82°F (28°C), about 1 wet days.

Palm Springs weather in September

September brings highs around 98°F (37°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 1 wet days.

Palm Springs weather in October

October brings highs around 88°F (31°C), lows near 65°F (18°C), about 1 wet days.

Palm Springs weather in November

November brings highs around 75°F (24°C), lows near 55°F (13°C), about 1 wet days.

Palm Springs weather in December

December brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 49°F (10°C), about 3 wet days.

Seasons in Palm Springs

Spring (March through May)

Spring in Palm Springs brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 83°F (28°C) and nights around 60°F (16°C); precipitation is sparse, near 1.6 inches (40 mm) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 12.2 hours of sun a day.

Summer (June through August)

Summer in Palm Springs is punishingly hot, with daytime highs averaging 104°F (40°C) and nights around 80°F (27°C); precipitation is sparse, near 14 mm (0.6 in) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 13.3 hours of sun a day.

Fall (September through November)

Fall runs hot here - highs near 87°F (30°C), nights near 65°F (18°C), and precipitation is sparse, near 25 mm (1.0 in) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.7 hours of sun a day.

Winter (December through February)

Winter is mild here - highs near 67°F (20°C), nights near 50°F (10°C), and rain comes on about 10 days over the three months.

Climate questions, answered

How much do temperatures drop at night in Palm Springs?
By about 12°C on an average day - a wider day-to-night gap than most of the 3496 cities we track. In July that means 106°F (41°C) down to 83°F (28°C).
Which months are driest in Palm Springs?
8 months average under 20 mm of rain, with June the driest at less than 1 mm.
How often does it rain in Palm Springs?
About 20 days bring measurable precipitation, totalling 7.6 inches (194 mm). That works out at roughly 9.7 mm on an average wet day.
How hot does Palm Springs get in summer?
July averages 106°F (41°C). That is serious heat, and the decade record for this location is 120°F (49°C).
Does it rain a lot in Palm Springs?
7.6 inches (194 mm) a year across 20 wet days - less than 96% of the cities we cover.
What should I pack for Palm Springs?
It depends on the month: July runs to 106°F (41°C) while January holds at 66°F (19°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.

Best time to visit Palm Springs

November to March is the sweet spot for Palm Springs - temperatures sit either side of the peak heat rather than in it. Expect 70°F (21°C) in the afternoon and around 3 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in November.

Pack for Palm Springs with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection. Even in July, lows of 83°F (28°C) make an extra layer worth the space.

Palm Springs temperature records (2015-2024)

Highest recorded
120°
in July
Lowest recorded
31°
in January
Annual precipitation
7.6"
Snowy days / yr
0

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.