Weather in Palm Desert, California
Fog and sun in daily rhythm. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 12:12 PM
- Moonset
- 1:56 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Fog and sun in daily rhythm
Palm Desert at a glance
- Today vs. normal: NaN°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 9 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of May 16, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Palm Desert's warmest month is July (~94°F mean) and its coldest is December (~57°F). Rainfall peaks in January (0.7 inches) and bottoms out in June (0.0 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| February | 62° | 0.6″ | 1 |
| March | 69° | 0.3″ | 1 |
| April | 75° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| May | 81° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| June | 89° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| July | 94° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| August | 94° | 0.3″ | 0 |
| September | 89° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| October | 78° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| November | 66° | 0.2″ | 0 |
| December | 57° | 0.5″ | 1 |
Regional context
Palm Desert sits within a hot-summer Mediterranean climate region — a cohort that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Riverside, CA, Sacramento, CA.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Palm Desert?
- Palm Desert's last spring frost typically falls around mid-March, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Palm Desert?
- January is the wettest month with about 0.7 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 3 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Palm Desert?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 94°F.
- What is the coldest month in Palm Desert?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 57°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Palm Desert?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-March); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Palm Desert get?
- Palm Desert averages about 6 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Palm Desert?
- Palm Desert's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Palm Desert, California sits in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate zone. January means hover near 59°F while July averages 94°F — a 35°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Palm Desert receives about 3 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 6 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (33.7°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.