Palm Springs weather in December
December in Palm Springs: nice, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#4 of 12 months in Palm Springs · #347 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 84/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 22°C
- Nights
- 9°C
- Wet days
- 2
- Sun
- 8.1 h
- Humidity
- 44%
- Daylight
- 10 h
Traveller notes on Palm Springs in December
Other months in Palm Springs
Forum posters describe May in Palm Springs as genuinely hot, with highs commonly in the upper 90sF especially later in the month - one May visitor reported highs in the upper 90s to low 100sF most days, along with warm overnight temperatures and occasional poor air quality from blowing dust and sand. Posters consistently recommend early May specifically over late May for anyone prioritizing pool time without triple-digit heat, describing that window as warm enough to swim in an unheated pool while still falling short of the true 100+F heat typical from June through September. Posters consistently flag May, alongside late October, as a genuine shoulder-season sweet spot for avoiding peak winter rates while still getting comfortable outdoor conditions, at least early in the month. Posters generally recommend planning outdoor time for morning or evening once temperatures climb later in May.
November is the desert at its best, and the forum's own window is roughly 15 October to 1 December: days around 24°C, nights dropping to about 12. Two things they raise that the temperature cannot. First, light — the sun goes behind the mountains close to 4pm and it is dark by about 5 by mid-month, which shortens an afternoon far more than the date suggests. Second, timing inside the month: the end of November fills up with snowbirds arriving and Thanksgiving. Pools swim fine on a sunny day if heated; unheated ones really do not. Rain is rare, though storms do pass through.
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Palm Springs climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Palm Springs in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsSnowbird season, Christmas and New Year, Winter / Christmas break in United States(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Palm Springs's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherPalm Springs's best weather comes in February, March and November — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Palm Springs in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Snowbird season
1 Nov – 30 AprWinter-sun seasonCrowdedBook earlyThe desert's high season: seasonal residents arrive from Canada and the northern states, the golf rates peak, and the weekend traffic in from Los Angeles fills downtown. Book anything with a pool early.
- Holiday
Christmas and New Year
24 Dec – 1 JanChristmas & New YearClosuresCrowdedChristmas Day and New Year's Day are federal holidays: on 25 December most shops, museums and many restaurants close, and airports stay busy through the week between as families travel. New Year's Eve fills bars and restaurants, many at set-menu prices. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Palm Springs — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Palm Springs?
Palm Springs in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Palm Springs?
- December in Palm Springs: nice, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Palm Springs on SeasonMap's comfort score (84/100).
- What is the weather like in Palm Springs in December?
- In December, Palm Springs averages a daily high of 21.6°C and a low of 8.7°C, with about 18.4 mm of rain over roughly 2.1 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Palm Springs in December?
- Palm Springs has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 32 in December.
- Does it snow in Palm Springs in December?
- Palm Springs sees roughly 1 cm of snowfall in December.
Within 300 km: Laguna Beach's Sawdust Winter Fantasy around 20 Nov – 21 Dec, and San Diego's December Nights around 1–8 Dec.