August is one of the warmer months of the year in Palm Desert, with average highs near 39.4°C and lows around 23.6°C (mean 31.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 12 mm of rainfall and 28% relative humidity across the period.
August is one of the warmer months of the year in Palm Desert. Across 45 years of records, the warmest August in Palm Desert was 2020 — when the month averaged 33.7°C — while the coldest was 1989 at 28.8°C. Typical August days reach 39.4°C with nights near 23.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
August is about average for rainfall in Palm Desert, averaging 12 mm of rainfall. The wettest August on record was 1983 with 96 mm, while the driest were 2002 and 2019 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Palm Desert during August averages 28%. The most humid August was 1983 at 45%, and the least humid was 2019 at 20%.
August receives about 7.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Palm Desert. The sunniest Augusts were 2002 and 2019 at 7.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 6.1.
Average wind speed in Palm Desert during August is 2 m/s. The windiest Augusts were 1989, 2002 and 2020, among others at 2.3 m/s, while the calmest were 1984, 2012 and 2022 at 1.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 30.5°C | 31.2°C | 31.6°C | 31.9°C | 32.7°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg High | 38.3°C | 39.3°C | 39.6°C | 39.7°C | 40.5°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg Low | 22.7°C | 23.1°C | 23.7°C | 24.0°C | 25.0°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 21 mm | 8 mm | 9 mm | 7 mm | 20 mm | 0 mm |
August temperatures in Palm Desert have risen by about 1.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
August has ranged from a record low of 13.3°C (1990) to a record high of 46.3°C (2021).
Rainfall in August is about average for rainfall, averaging 12 mm, with a wettest year of 96 mm.
A quieter season to visit Palm Desert
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of October and May tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Palm Desert. That said, August — with days averaging 39.4°C and nights around 23.6°C (mean 31.5°C) and low rainfall (12 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the warmth, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41.3°C | 32.8°C | 24.4°C | 45.5°C | 19.8°C | 14 mm | 22% | 2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2024 | 40.7°C | 32.8°C | 25.0°C | 44.7°C | 15.2°C | 3 mm | 23% | 2 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2023 | 39.2°C | 31.6°C | 24.1°C | 44.2°C | 17.2°C | 69 mm | 33% | 2.2 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2022 | 39.6°C | 33.0°C | 26.3°C | 43.9°C | 23.0°C | 21 mm | 33% | 1.7 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2021 | 40.1°C | 32.5°C | 25.0°C | 46.3°C | 19.3°C | 14 mm | 29% | 2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2020 🔥 | 42.2°C | 33.7°C | 25.3°C | 46.1°C | 17.3°C | 1 mm | 23% | 2.3 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2019 | 41.2°C | 32.6°C | 24.1°C | 44.8°C | 19.2°C | 0 mm | 20% | 2 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2018 | 40.4°C | 32.5°C | 24.5°C | 45.1°C | 19.6°C | 3 mm | 28% | 2.2 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2017 | 39.5°C | 32.2°C | 24.8°C | 43.9°C | 16.7°C | 8 mm | 29% | 2.1 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2016 | 39.9°C | 32.2°C | 24.5°C | 43.4°C | 20.1°C | 1 mm | 24% | 2 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2015 | 40.6°C | 32.5°C | 24.3°C | 44.7°C | 17.7°C | 1 mm | 25% | 2.2 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2014 | 37.5°C | 30.0°C | 22.5°C | 42.5°C | 18.0°C | 20 mm | 32% | 1.9 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2013 | 38.0°C | 30.6°C | 23.1°C | 42.8°C | 17.2°C | 24 mm | 31% | 2.1 m/s | 7 |
| 2012 | 39.5°C | 32.7°C | 26.0°C | 43.8°C | 20.2°C | 13 mm | 34% | 1.7 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2011 | 41.4°C | 32.7°C | 24.0°C | 44.5°C | 19.0°C | 2 mm | 20% | 2.1 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2010 | 39.3°C | 30.9°C | 22.5°C | 43.7°C | 13.4°C | 2 mm | 25% | 2.2 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2009 | 39.6°C | 31.4°C | 23.1°C | 44.1°C | 15.9°C | 0 mm | 23% | 2.1 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2008 | 39.6°C | 31.8°C | 24.0°C | 43.4°C | 17.6°C | 14 mm | 29% | 2 m/s | 7 |
| 2007 | 40.2°C | 32.4°C | 24.7°C | 43.6°C | 17.3°C | 7 mm | 28% | 2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2006 | 39.0°C | 31.0°C | 23.0°C | 41.7°C | 18.5°C | 2 mm | 26% | 2 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2005 | 38.5°C | 31.6°C | 24.6°C | 44.8°C | 19.6°C | 12 mm | 34% | 1.8 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2004 | 39.2°C | 31.1°C | 23.0°C | 44.6°C | 15.6°C | 6 mm | 28% | 2.2 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2003 | 39.4°C | 32.1°C | 24.9°C | 44.2°C | 20.2°C | 25 mm | 31% | 2 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2002 | 40.7°C | 31.3°C | 21.9°C | 45.0°C | 15.9°C | 0 mm | 22% | 2.3 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2001 | 40.3°C | 32.4°C | 24.4°C | 44.0°C | 16.7°C | 1 mm | 27% | 2.1 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2000 | 39.0°C | 31.4°C | 23.8°C | 43.6°C | 16.9°C | 19 mm | 30% | 2.1 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1999 | 38.9°C | 30.4°C | 21.9°C | 42.5°C | 14.3°C | 7 mm | 26% | 2.1 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1998 | 40.8°C | 33.0°C | 25.2°C | 46.1°C | 17.8°C | 12 mm | 29% | 2 m/s | 7 |
| 1997 | 39.8°C | 31.6°C | 23.3°C | 44.0°C | 17.1°C | 3 mm | 29% | 2.2 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1996 | 40.5°C | 32.3°C | 24.1°C | 43.4°C | 16.3°C | 3 mm | 27% | 2.1 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1995 | 40.9°C | 32.9°C | 24.9°C | 44.6°C | 19.0°C | 4 mm | 26% | 2.1 m/s | 7 |
| 1994 | 40.4°C | 32.4°C | 24.4°C | 44.1°C | 18.8°C | 12 mm | 28% | 2.2 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1993 | 37.7°C | 29.6°C | 21.5°C | 44.2°C | 14.2°C | 7 mm | 29% | 2.1 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1992 | 38.5°C | 31.2°C | 23.9°C | 43.2°C | 14.7°C | 18 mm | 34% | 2 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1991 | 37.4°C | 29.2°C | 21.0°C | 42.1°C | 14.7°C | 8 mm | 31% | 2.1 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1990 | 37.7°C | 29.3°C | 21.0°C | 41.5°C | 13.3°C | 10 mm | 31% | 2 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 37.4°C | 28.8°C | 20.2°C | 41.4°C | 14.6°C | 7 mm | 32% | 2.3 m/s | 7.3 |
| 1988 | 37.8°C | 30.1°C | 22.4°C | 40.9°C | 15.8°C | 19 mm | 33% | 1.9 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1987 | 38.1°C | 30.2°C | 22.4°C | 41.8°C | 13.9°C | 6 mm | 29% | 2.2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1986 | 39.9°C | 32.3°C | 24.6°C | 43.2°C | 18.7°C | 8 mm | 26% | 1.9 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1985 | 39.9°C | 30.8°C | 21.6°C | 44.7°C | 17.3°C | 0 mm | 20% | 2.3 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1984 | 37.3°C | 30.3°C | 23.2°C | 43.4°C | 19.0°C | 29 mm | 39% | 1.7 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1983 🌧️ | 35.8°C | 29.2°C | 22.7°C | 42.2°C | 15.0°C | 96 mm | 45% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 38.0°C | 30.7°C | 23.4°C | 42.3°C | 17.2°C | 15 mm | 29% | 1.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 40.5°C | 32.3°C | 24.1°C | 44.2°C | 17.0°C | 6 mm | 22% | 2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded August data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in August is around 39.4°C with lows near 23.6°C (mean 31.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
August averages 12 mm of rainfall in Palm Desert, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 96 mm in 1983.
The hottest August reached 46.3°C in 2021. The coldest dipped to 13.3°C in 1990.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average August temperatures have risen by about 1.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 38.3°C to 40.2°C and overnight lows from 23°C to 25°C over the same span.
August is one of the warmer months of the year in Palm Desert and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 39.4°C daytime highs and 23.6°C at night.
Not quite — August is the 11th coolest month in Palm Desert, averaging 31.5°C.
For August in Palm Desert, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 39.4°C and lows of 23.6°C.
Relative humidity in August averages 28% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in August is 2 m/s. The windiest August on record averaged 2.3 m/s (1985).
The wettest August on record was 1983 with 96 mm. On average, August sees 12 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 Palm Desert behaves each August, 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 August specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
