Palm Springs Weather: Hot days, cool nights and perfect winters
Is it going to scorch, sandstorm, or maybe something worse? The summers are hotter than a Botoxed forehead and the winters are sweater weather for retirees. Here's what else is going on around Palm Springs that will impact the time you spend outside.
Holley, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Holley lives in Palm Springs, which still feels a little surreal after years of dreaming about desert life from afar. After moving across the country six times, she landed in the Coachella Valley for the palm trees, mountain views, and a history so layered it feels like it was built for her. She has worked at two presidential libraries, hosts a history podcast, and writes archival based stories that bring the past back to life, which makes a place steeped in Old Hollywood, politics, and quiet celebrity exactly her speed. When she’s not golfing or disappearing into another archive treasure hunt, she’s happily leaning into local life, and exploring the best date-shake stands. At Snappy Scout, Holley edits with a historians eye and a locals instincts, turning California from a postcard into a place with texture, memory, and meaning.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What's the Weather Really Like in Palm Springs?
The forecast, the fashion, and the fine print locals wish someone had told them sooner.
Summer temps be like
Surface of the sun vibes (110-120 degrees)
Winter lows are
Your grandma's ideal thermostat setting (mid 50s)
The humidity makes me
forget what frizzy hair even means
Unique weather patterns
Microclimates shift wildly from neighborhood to neighborhood, and when the Santa Ana winds kick up, everyone’s pool floaties turn into tumbleweeds. June Gloom, meanwhile, is a coastal problem. Out here, it’s basically a myth.
Local weather fashion tip
Own 47 pairs of sunglasses because you'll lose them constantly. Rain gear is for tourists who don't understand we get like 5 inches a year.
You know it's time to get out of town when
It's August and even your cactus looks thirsty. Locals flee to San Diego beaches or the mountain towns until September remembers to show up.
Bugs be like
Basically non-existent thanks to the desert dryness. The occasional scorpion keeps things spicy, but mosquitos gave up decades ago.
You're stuck indoors again today because
It's 2pm in July and touching your car door handle would constitute a felony assault on your palm
Green thumb enthusiasts love
Year-round citrus, low-effort succulents, and February tomatoes worth bragging about
My Favorite Season in Palm Springs
It’s hard to pick because, aside from summer at its peak, every season is wonderful in the Coachella Valley. But if I had to choose, I’d say I love spring the most. Here, that usually means late February through April, and that’s when the desert marigolds are in bloom and everything turns my favorite shade of yellow. The hummingbirds and butterflies are everywhere, and it’s impossible not to feel happier just being outside. Even though it’s still high season, it never feels too crowded, and the weather is perfect for pool days, though the water itself might still be a little chilly.
— Holley Snaith
California Local Expert
Ready to See If Palm Springs Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Palm Springs guide for the bigger picture.