December is one of the cooler months of the year in Desert Hot Springs, with average highs near 14.9°C and lows around 2.9°C (mean 8.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 21 mm of rainfall and 48% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Desert Hot Springs. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Desert Hot Springs was 2025 — when the month averaged 14°C — while the coldest was 1990 at 5.6°C. Typical December days reach 14.9°C with nights near 2.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Desert Hot Springs, averaging 21 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2010 with 95 mm, while the driest were 2000, 2017 and 2024 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Desert Hot Springs during December averages 48%. The most humid December was 1984 at 65%, and the least humid was 2017 at 21%.
December receives about 3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Desert Hot Springs. The sunniest December was 2006 at 3.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2010, 2014 and 2019, among others at 2.7.
Average wind speed in Desert Hot Springs during December is 2 m/s. The windiest December was 1998 at 2.7 m/s, while the calmest was 2023 at 1.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 8.3°C | 8.0°C | 8.6°C | 9.2°C | 11.3°C | +3°C |
| Avg High | 14.4°C | 14.1°C | 14.6°C | 15.1°C | 17.3°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg Low | 2.3°C | 1.9°C | 2.5°C | 3.4°C | 5.2°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 27 mm | 18 mm | 19 mm | 25 mm | 15 mm | -12 mm |
December temperatures in Desert Hot Springs have risen by about 2.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -7.9°C (1990) to a record high of 26.5°C (2025).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 21 mm, with a wettest year of 95 mm.
A quieter season to visit Desert Hot Springs
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of May and October tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Desert Hot Springs. That said, December — with days averaging 14.9°C and nights around 2.9°C (mean 8.9°C) and low rainfall (21 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 🔥 | 19.9°C | 14.0°C | 8.1°C | 26.5°C | 2.1°C | 29 mm | 46% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 20.2°C | 13.5°C | 6.8°C | 24.1°C | 1.6°C | 0 mm | 32% | 1.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2023 | 17.5°C | 11.5°C | 5.6°C | 23.6°C | 2.3°C | 13 mm | 46% | 1.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2022 | 15.3°C | 9.3°C | 3.2°C | 22.3°C | -2.1°C | 8 mm | 56% | 1.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2021 | 15.4°C | 9.7°C | 4.1°C | 25.6°C | -2.6°C | 34 mm | 54% | 2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2020 | 15.8°C | 9.7°C | 3.5°C | 21.9°C | -0.3°C | 4 mm | 34% | 2.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2019 | 12.8°C | 8.0°C | 3.3°C | 22.7°C | -2.7°C | 43 mm | 60% | 1.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2018 | 14.7°C | 9.2°C | 3.8°C | 21.3°C | -2.5°C | 15 mm | 50% | 1.8 m/s | 3 |
| 2017 | 18.6°C | 12.0°C | 5.4°C | 24.7°C | -0.6°C | 0 mm | 21% | 2.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2016 | 15.2°C | 9.2°C | 3.2°C | 23.6°C | -3.9°C | 52 mm | 53% | 2.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2015 | 14.4°C | 8.2°C | 2.1°C | 25.9°C | -3.6°C | 4 mm | 43% | 2.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2014 | 14.8°C | 9.7°C | 4.6°C | 22.5°C | -3.4°C | 21 mm | 60% | 1.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2013 | 15.4°C | 8.8°C | 2.3°C | 23.3°C | -4.5°C | 3 mm | 40% | 2.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2012 | 14.6°C | 8.7°C | 2.9°C | 25.8°C | -3.2°C | 12 mm | 55% | 1.9 m/s | 3 |
| 2011 | 13.8°C | 7.8°C | 1.8°C | 23.7°C | -3.1°C | 5 mm | 40% | 2.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2010 🌧️ | 16.4°C | 10.7°C | 5.0°C | 24.1°C | -3.9°C | 95 mm | 58% | 1.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2009 | 13.0°C | 7.3°C | 1.5°C | 20.4°C | -4.4°C | 30 mm | 52% | 2.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2008 | 13.1°C | 7.3°C | 1.5°C | 24.6°C | -5.0°C | 46 mm | 58% | 1.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2007 | 12.5°C | 6.7°C | 0.9°C | 24.6°C | -2.9°C | 16 mm | 55% | 2.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2006 | 15.4°C | 8.9°C | 2.3°C | 23.8°C | -2.8°C | 4 mm | 37% | 2.3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2005 | 16.7°C | 10.3°C | 4.0°C | 24.1°C | -1.9°C | 1 mm | 46% | 1.9 m/s | 3 |
| 2004 | 14.7°C | 8.8°C | 3.0°C | 22.2°C | -2.6°C | 52 mm | 56% | 2.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2003 | 14.7°C | 8.7°C | 2.8°C | 21.3°C | -3.2°C | 14 mm | 49% | 1.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2002 | 14.2°C | 8.3°C | 2.5°C | 19.4°C | -2.3°C | 14 mm | 55% | 1.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2001 | 14.1°C | 8.0°C | 1.9°C | 18.1°C | -2.8°C | 8 mm | 49% | 2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2000 | 17.9°C | 11.3°C | 4.8°C | 22.0°C | 1.4°C | 0 mm | 36% | 1.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1999 | 15.6°C | 9.0°C | 2.5°C | 21.4°C | -1.0°C | 7 mm | 37% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1998 | 15.3°C | 8.8°C | 2.4°C | 22.9°C | -3.8°C | 7 mm | 39% | 2.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1997 | 12.4°C | 7.0°C | 1.6°C | 18.5°C | -3.7°C | 25 mm | 48% | 2.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1996 | 15.8°C | 9.4°C | 3.0°C | 21.5°C | -3.8°C | 14 mm | 54% | 2.2 m/s | 3 |
| 1995 | 17.1°C | 10.6°C | 4.0°C | 25.2°C | -2.8°C | 6 mm | 46% | 1.9 m/s | 3 |
| 1994 | 13.8°C | 8.1°C | 2.4°C | 20.8°C | -3.6°C | 28 mm | 53% | 1.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1993 | 14.4°C | 7.8°C | 1.2°C | 21.4°C | -3.3°C | 8 mm | 43% | 2 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1992 | 11.7°C | 5.9°C | 0.1°C | 17.9°C | -4.3°C | 56 mm | 59% | 2.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 | 13.2°C | 7.8°C | 2.4°C | 19.3°C | -2.7°C | 28 mm | 54% | 1.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1990 ❄️ | 11.8°C | 5.6°C | -0.5°C | 18.9°C | -7.9°C | 3 mm | 37% | 2.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1989 | 16.3°C | 9.5°C | 2.7°C | 25.9°C | -3.6°C | 5 mm | 31% | 2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1988 | 13.6°C | 7.2°C | 0.9°C | 21.7°C | -5.5°C | 18 mm | 47% | 2.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1987 | 11.2°C | 5.8°C | 0.4°C | 25.3°C | -5.3°C | 28 mm | 57% | 2.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1986 | 14.7°C | 8.6°C | 2.6°C | 23.2°C | -2.6°C | 15 mm | 48% | 1.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 | 14.9°C | 8.7°C | 2.6°C | 20.4°C | -4.5°C | 12 mm | 53% | 1.9 m/s | 3 |
| 1984 | 12.0°C | 6.5°C | 0.9°C | 16.1°C | -3.4°C | 73 mm | 65% | 2.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1983 | 15.4°C | 9.2°C | 3.1°C | 21.9°C | -2.9°C | 44 mm | 60% | 2.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 13.4°C | 7.7°C | 2.1°C | 20.6°C | -4.1°C | 47 mm | 55% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 18.1°C | 11.5°C | 5.0°C | 24.2°C | -2.7°C | 3 mm | 44% | 2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 14.9°C with lows near 2.9°C (mean 8.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 21 mm of rainfall in Desert Hot Springs, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 95 mm in 2010.
The hottest December reached 26.5°C in 2025. The coldest dipped to -7.9°C in 1990.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 14.8°C to 17.7°C and overnight lows from 2.7°C to 5.6°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Desert Hot Springs and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 14.9°C daytime highs and 2.9°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Desert Hot Springs, averaging 8.9°C.
For December in Desert Hot Springs, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 14.9°C and lows of 2.9°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 48% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in December is 2 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 2.7 m/s (1998).
The wettest December on record was 2010 with 95 mm. On average, December sees 21 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Desert Hot Springs behaves each December, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for December specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
