Palm Springs, CA Climate & Monthly Averages
Palm Springs has a hot desert climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 106° by day; January is the coldest at 66°.
Palm Springs's climate runs on sunshine and sparse rain
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.
What the dry climate changes
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.
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).
More climate facts for Palm Springs
- 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%
Heat, cold and scarce precipitation in the dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.
When the dry weather is easiest to use
Avoiding the hardest heat or cold
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.
Prepare for sun and cooler nights
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.
Monthly heat and rainfall table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 66° | 49° | 4 | 1.8 in | 8.7 h/day | 10.1 h | 13% | 41% |
| February | 70° | 51° | 3 | 1.5 in | 9.7 h/day | 10.9 h | 10% | 35% |
| March | 75° | 54° | 3 | 1.1 in | 11.0 h/day | 11.9 h | 11% | 37% |
| April | 85° | 61° | 1 | 0.3 in | 12.2 h/day | 13.0 h | 4% | 29% |
| May | 90° | 65° | 1 | 0.1 in | 13.3 h/day | 13.9 h | 2% | 30% |
| June | 101° | 76° | 0 | 0.0 in | 13.7 h/day | 14.4 h | 1% | 23% |
| July | 106° | 83° | 1 | 0.2 in | 13.6 h/day | 14.2 h | 3% | 25% |
| August | 105° | 82° | 1 | 0.3 in | 12.7 h/day | 13.4 h | 2% | 25% |
| September | 98° | 75° | 1 | 0.3 in | 11.6 h/day | 12.3 h | 4% | 27% |
| October | 88° | 65° | 1 | 0.2 in | 10.8 h/day | 11.3 h | 3% | 26% |
| November | 75° | 55° | 1 | 0.4 in | 9.8 h/day | 10.4 h | 4% | 27% |
| December | 66° | 49° | 3 | 1.2 in | 8.5 h/day | 9.9 h | 9% | 36% |
How daytime heat and cool nights change by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Palm Springs's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 8.7 h
- Daylight
- 10.1 h
February
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
March
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 11.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 12.2 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
May
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 13.3 h
- Daylight
- 13.9 h
June
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 13.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.4 h
July
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 13.6 h
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
August
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 12.7 h
- Daylight
- 13.4 h
September
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 11.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 11.3 h
November
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 9.8 h
- Daylight
- 10.4 h
December
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 8.5 h
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Palm Springs's coolest part of the year: January, December, February.
Heat and cold across the Palm Springs year
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.
How unusual is Palm Springs?
- 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.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.