May is one of the warmer months of the year in Palm Desert, with average highs near 31.4°C and lows around 14.1°C (mean 22.8°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 5 mm of rainfall and 37% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Palm Desert. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Palm Desert was 1997 — when the month averaged 27.1°C — while the coldest was 1998 at 17.9°C. Typical May days reach 31.4°C with nights near 14.1°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
May is one of the drier months in Palm Desert, averaging 5 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1998 with 33 mm, while the driest were 2009, 2012 and 2022, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Palm Desert during May averages 37%. The most humid May was 1998 at 54%, and the least humid was 1984 at 25%.
May receives about 7.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Palm Desert. The sunniest May was 2020 at 8.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1995 at 6.9.
Average wind speed in Palm Desert during May is 2.6 m/s. The windiest May was 1990 at 3.3 m/s, while the calmest was 1992 at 2.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 22.8°C | 21.7°C | 24.1°C | 22.0°C | 23.6°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg High | 31.6°C | 30.3°C | 32.8°C | 30.5°C | 32.4°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Low | 13.9°C | 13.2°C | 15.4°C | 13.6°C | 14.7°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 3 mm | 8 mm | 3 mm | 6 mm | 2 mm | -1 mm |
May temperatures in Palm Desert have risen by about 0.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 5.4°C (2003) to a record high of 43°C (2001).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 5 mm, with a wettest year of 33 mm.
One of the best times to visit Palm Desert
May is one of the best times to visit Palm Desert. Expect days averaging 31.4°C and nights around 14.1°C (mean 22.8°C) — warmer than Palm Desert's yearly average — with low rainfall (5 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32.4°C | 23.9°C | 15.4°C | 38.3°C | 10.6°C | 6 mm | 38% | 2.6 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2024 | 32.4°C | 23.1°C | 13.8°C | 37.5°C | 7.6°C | 1 mm | 38% | 2.9 m/s | 8 |
| 2023 | 30.5°C | 22.3°C | 14.2°C | 37.3°C | 8.4°C | 4 mm | 43% | 2.9 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2022 | 33.0°C | 23.8°C | 14.7°C | 38.4°C | 6.8°C | 0 mm | 32% | 2.8 m/s | 8.2 |
| 2021 | 32.7°C | 23.7°C | 14.7°C | 36.6°C | 8.4°C | 0 mm | 33% | 2.7 m/s | 8.2 |
| 2020 | 33.5°C | 24.6°C | 15.6°C | 40.5°C | 9.8°C | 1 mm | 37% | 2.6 m/s | 8.4 |
| 2019 | 27.2°C | 19.8°C | 12.3°C | 34.1°C | 7.8°C | 15 mm | 50% | 2.8 m/s | 7 |
| 2018 | 31.7°C | 23.0°C | 14.3°C | 38.7°C | 7.7°C | 1 mm | 40% | 2.8 m/s | 7.9 |
| 2017 | 31.4°C | 22.9°C | 14.5°C | 40.0°C | 7.5°C | 6 mm | 37% | 2.6 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2016 | 29.9°C | 21.8°C | 13.7°C | 38.3°C | 9.8°C | 4 mm | 42% | 2.6 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2015 | 28.4°C | 20.9°C | 13.3°C | 37.0°C | 7.5°C | 16 mm | 43% | 2.6 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2014 | 32.6°C | 23.9°C | 15.2°C | 39.5°C | 10.1°C | 2 mm | 30% | 2.9 m/s | 8.1 |
| 2013 | 32.5°C | 23.4°C | 14.4°C | 39.3°C | 10.6°C | 5 mm | 34% | 2.8 m/s | 7.9 |
| 2012 | 33.8°C | 24.3°C | 14.8°C | 41.5°C | 8.3°C | 0 mm | 29% | 2.6 m/s | 8.3 |
| 2011 | 28.4°C | 20.0°C | 11.6°C | 35.8°C | 6.5°C | 6 mm | 39% | 3.2 m/s | 8 |
| 2010 | 28.6°C | 20.0°C | 11.4°C | 34.8°C | 6.3°C | 1 mm | 40% | 2.8 m/s | 8.2 |
| 2009 | 35.2°C | 26.4°C | 17.7°C | 38.6°C | 13.5°C | 0 mm | 30% | 2.3 m/s | 8 |
| 2008 | 29.8°C | 21.3°C | 12.8°C | 41.9°C | 8.3°C | 4 mm | 36% | 2.7 m/s | 7.8 |
| 2007 | 32.7°C | 23.9°C | 15.0°C | 36.5°C | 7.8°C | 1 mm | 28% | 2.4 m/s | 8.2 |
| 2006 | 33.0°C | 24.6°C | 16.1°C | 38.0°C | 9.8°C | 6 mm | 34% | 2.3 m/s | 8.1 |
| 2005 | 31.9°C | 23.4°C | 14.8°C | 40.7°C | 8.1°C | 3 mm | 42% | 2.3 m/s | 7.9 |
| 2004 | 33.1°C | 24.0°C | 15.0°C | 40.0°C | 10.2°C | 0 mm | 31% | 2.8 m/s | 8.3 |
| 2003 | 31.4°C | 23.1°C | 14.9°C | 42.3°C | 5.4°C | 9 mm | 37% | 2.4 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2002 | 31.6°C | 22.6°C | 13.6°C | 40.8°C | 7.8°C | 0 mm | 32% | 2.5 m/s | 8.2 |
| 2001 | 35.6°C | 26.7°C | 17.8°C | 43.0°C | 10.6°C | 1 mm | 29% | 2.3 m/s | 8 |
| 2000 | 34.0°C | 25.0°C | 15.9°C | 41.3°C | 9.3°C | 5 mm | 34% | 2.8 m/s | 8 |
| 1999 | 31.0°C | 21.7°C | 12.5°C | 37.6°C | 5.6°C | 2 mm | 37% | 2.7 m/s | 7.7 |
| 1998 ❄️ 🌧️ | 25.7°C | 17.9°C | 10.2°C | 31.5°C | 6.4°C | 33 mm | 54% | 2.7 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1997 🔥 | 35.8°C | 27.1°C | 18.4°C | 41.3°C | 12.6°C | 2 mm | 30% | 2.3 m/s | 7.9 |
| 1996 | 32.7°C | 23.4°C | 14.1°C | 40.0°C | 9.2°C | 1 mm | 36% | 3 m/s | 8.1 |
| 1995 | 26.4°C | 18.8°C | 11.1°C | 35.3°C | 6.0°C | 12 mm | 51% | 2.8 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1994 | 30.0°C | 21.5°C | 13.0°C | 38.0°C | 7.3°C | 5 mm | 41% | 2.3 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1993 | 30.6°C | 22.2°C | 13.9°C | 34.2°C | 9.4°C | 5 mm | 45% | 2.5 m/s | 7.8 |
| 1992 | 32.1°C | 23.9°C | 15.7°C | 35.0°C | 11.2°C | 9 mm | 43% | 2.1 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1991 | 28.6°C | 19.7°C | 10.9°C | 35.2°C | 6.6°C | 1 mm | 42% | 3 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1990 | 30.4°C | 21.2°C | 12.1°C | 35.1°C | 8.8°C | 8 mm | 37% | 3.3 m/s | 7.7 |
| 1989 | 32.2°C | 23.2°C | 14.1°C | 39.1°C | 9.0°C | 3 mm | 32% | 2.8 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1988 | 31.1°C | 22.3°C | 13.5°C | 39.2°C | 5.5°C | 4 mm | 32% | 2.7 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1987 | 30.7°C | 22.7°C | 14.7°C | 36.2°C | 9.2°C | 4 mm | 36% | 2.3 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1986 | 31.7°C | 22.6°C | 13.5°C | 38.2°C | 6.5°C | 0 mm | 32% | 2.6 m/s | 7.9 |
| 1985 | 31.8°C | 22.7°C | 13.5°C | 36.5°C | 8.7°C | 0 mm | 30% | 2.7 m/s | 7.8 |
| 1984 | 35.8°C | 26.3°C | 16.8°C | 41.4°C | 9.8°C | 1 mm | 25% | 2.5 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1983 | 30.1°C | 21.4°C | 12.8°C | 38.8°C | 6.4°C | 2 mm | 43% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 30.0°C | 21.6°C | 13.1°C | 36.3°C | 7.2°C | 6 mm | 41% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 30.8°C | 22.0°C | 13.2°C | 36.1°C | 8.6°C | 9 mm | 35% | 2.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 31.4°C with lows near 14.1°C (mean 22.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 5 mm of rainfall in Palm Desert, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 33 mm in 1998.
The hottest May reached 43°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to 5.4°C in 2003.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 31.7°C to 32.2°C and overnight lows from 13.9°C to 14.6°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Palm Desert and one of the drier months, so plan for around 31.4°C daytime highs and 14.1°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Palm Desert, averaging 22.8°C.
For May in Palm Desert, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 31.4°C and lows of 14.1°C.
Relative humidity in May averages 37% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in May is 2.6 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 3.3 m/s (1990).
The wettest May on record was 1998 with 33 mm. On average, May sees 5 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 May, 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 May specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
