December is one of the cooler months of the year in Palm Desert, with average highs near 17.8°C and lows around 6°C (mean 11.9°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 32 mm of rainfall and 47% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Palm Desert. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Palm Desert was 2025 — when the month averaged 16.9°C — while the coldest were 1987 and 1990 at 8.7°C. Typical December days reach 17.8°C with nights near 6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Palm Desert, averaging 32 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2010 with 122 mm, while the driest were 2017 and 2024 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Palm Desert during December averages 47%. The most humid December was 1984 at 62%, and the least humid was 2017 at 21%.
December receives about 3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Palm Desert. 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 Palm Desert during December is 1.7 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1982 and 1998 at 2.1 m/s, while the calmest was 2023 at 1.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.2°C | 10.9°C | 11.6°C | 12.3°C | 14.4°C | +3.2°C |
| Avg High | 17.1°C | 17.0°C | 17.6°C | 18.0°C | 20.3°C | +3.2°C |
| Avg Low | 5.2°C | 4.8°C | 5.7°C | 6.6°C | 8.5°C | +3.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 40 mm | 27 mm | 32 mm | 36 mm | 20 mm | -20 mm |
December temperatures in Palm Desert have risen by about 3.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -5.8°C (1990) to a record high of 29.1°C (2025).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 32 mm, with a wettest year of 122 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, December — with days averaging 17.8°C and nights around 6°C (mean 11.9°C) and moderate rainfall (32 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 🔥 | 22.6°C | 16.9°C | 11.2°C | 29.1°C | 5.3°C | 30 mm | 44% | 1.4 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 23.1°C | 16.6°C | 10.0°C | 26.5°C | 5.6°C | 0 mm | 31% | 1.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2023 | 20.4°C | 14.7°C | 9.1°C | 25.8°C | 5.3°C | 12 mm | 44% | 1.3 m/s | 3 |
| 2022 | 18.5°C | 12.6°C | 6.7°C | 25.4°C | 2.0°C | 14 mm | 52% | 1.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2021 | 18.2°C | 12.8°C | 7.3°C | 27.4°C | 1.5°C | 56 mm | 52% | 1.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2020 | 19.0°C | 12.9°C | 6.8°C | 24.8°C | 3.1°C | 8 mm | 32% | 1.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2019 | 16.0°C | 11.1°C | 6.3°C | 23.8°C | 1.4°C | 45 mm | 58% | 1.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2018 | 17.8°C | 12.3°C | 6.9°C | 24.0°C | 0.2°C | 26 mm | 50% | 1.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2017 | 21.5°C | 15.2°C | 8.9°C | 26.3°C | 2.3°C | 0 mm | 21% | 1.8 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2016 | 18.3°C | 12.3°C | 6.3°C | 25.3°C | -0.8°C | 62 mm | 52% | 1.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2015 | 17.4°C | 11.3°C | 5.1°C | 27.4°C | -0.4°C | 16 mm | 42% | 1.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2014 | 17.8°C | 12.7°C | 7.5°C | 26.7°C | -1.1°C | 43 mm | 58% | 1.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2013 | 18.4°C | 12.1°C | 5.8°C | 25.3°C | -2.1°C | 6 mm | 39% | 1.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2012 | 17.7°C | 11.9°C | 6.1°C | 27.6°C | -0.4°C | 27 mm | 55% | 1.6 m/s | 3 |
| 2011 | 16.5°C | 10.7°C | 4.9°C | 24.1°C | 0.0°C | 12 mm | 42% | 1.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2010 🌧️ | 18.8°C | 13.3°C | 7.8°C | 25.8°C | 0.0°C | 122 mm | 57% | 1.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2009 | 16.1°C | 10.5°C | 4.9°C | 23.0°C | 0.5°C | 55 mm | 51% | 1.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2008 | 16.2°C | 10.6°C | 4.9°C | 26.4°C | -1.6°C | 76 mm | 56% | 1.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2007 | 15.5°C | 9.7°C | 3.9°C | 24.6°C | -0.6°C | 34 mm | 53% | 1.8 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2006 | 18.2°C | 11.8°C | 5.4°C | 24.3°C | 0.7°C | 11 mm | 37% | 1.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2005 | 20.0°C | 13.6°C | 7.2°C | 26.9°C | 1.2°C | 2 mm | 43% | 1.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2004 | 17.2°C | 11.5°C | 5.8°C | 23.4°C | 0.2°C | 69 mm | 56% | 1.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2003 | 17.7°C | 11.8°C | 5.9°C | 23.7°C | -0.1°C | 21 mm | 47% | 1.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2002 | 17.2°C | 11.5°C | 5.8°C | 21.7°C | 1.5°C | 33 mm | 53% | 1.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2001 | 16.9°C | 10.8°C | 4.8°C | 21.6°C | 0.3°C | 16 mm | 49% | 1.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2000 | 20.8°C | 14.6°C | 8.4°C | 24.9°C | 3.7°C | 0 mm | 34% | 1.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1999 | 19.1°C | 12.4°C | 5.7°C | 24.7°C | 2.6°C | 8 mm | 34% | 1.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1998 | 17.9°C | 11.5°C | 5.1°C | 25.9°C | -1.8°C | 14 mm | 42% | 2.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1997 | 15.5°C | 10.0°C | 4.5°C | 21.0°C | -1.8°C | 41 mm | 49% | 1.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1996 | 18.2°C | 12.0°C | 5.8°C | 23.7°C | -0.7°C | 29 mm | 54% | 1.8 m/s | 3 |
| 1995 | 19.9°C | 13.5°C | 7.1°C | 27.4°C | 0.8°C | 9 mm | 44% | 1.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1994 | 16.4°C | 10.7°C | 5.1°C | 23.1°C | -0.7°C | 25 mm | 52% | 1.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1993 | 17.0°C | 10.5°C | 4.1°C | 23.1°C | -0.9°C | 16 mm | 44% | 1.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1992 | 14.8°C | 8.8°C | 2.9°C | 19.0°C | -2.1°C | 77 mm | 57% | 1.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 | 16.2°C | 10.8°C | 5.5°C | 21.1°C | -0.5°C | 42 mm | 53% | 1.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1990 | 15.2°C | 8.7°C | 2.1°C | 21.8°C | -5.8°C | 10 mm | 39% | 1.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1989 | 19.3°C | 12.6°C | 5.9°C | 28.6°C | -0.7°C | 6 mm | 32% | 1.7 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1988 | 16.6°C | 10.3°C | 4.0°C | 25.4°C | -3.1°C | 34 mm | 47% | 1.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1987 ❄️ | 14.3°C | 8.7°C | 3.0°C | 25.9°C | -3.1°C | 35 mm | 56% | 1.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1986 | 17.4°C | 11.5°C | 5.6°C | 23.8°C | 0.2°C | 18 mm | 45% | 1.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 | 17.4°C | 11.5°C | 5.6°C | 22.5°C | -1.5°C | 23 mm | 53% | 1.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1984 | 15.0°C | 9.5°C | 4.0°C | 19.5°C | -0.9°C | 99 mm | 62% | 1.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1983 | 17.8°C | 11.9°C | 6.0°C | 25.4°C | 0.4°C | 62 mm | 59% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 16.0°C | 10.6°C | 5.1°C | 22.3°C | -2.0°C | 75 mm | 55% | 2.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 20.5°C | 14.1°C | 7.6°C | 26.1°C | 0.4°C | 12 mm | 45% | 1.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 17.8°C with lows near 6°C (mean 11.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 32 mm of rainfall in Palm Desert, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 122 mm in 2010.
The hottest December reached 29.1°C in 2025. The coldest dipped to -5.8°C in 1990.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 3.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 17.3°C to 20.6°C and overnight lows from 5.7°C to 8.9°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Palm Desert and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 17.8°C daytime highs and 6°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Palm Desert, averaging 11.9°C.
For December in Palm Desert, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 17.8°C and lows of 6°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 47% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in December is 1.7 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 2.1 m/s (1982).
The wettest December on record was 2010 with 122 mm. On average, December sees 32 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 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.
