October is one of the warmer months of the year in Palm Desert, with average highs near 29.5°C and lows around 15.2°C (mean 22.4°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 11 mm of rainfall and 35% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Palm Desert. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Palm Desert was 2024 — when the month averaged 26.7°C — while the coldest was 1984 at 19.1°C. Typical October days reach 29.5°C with nights near 15.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
October is about average for rainfall in Palm Desert, averaging 11 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 2004 with 85 mm, while the driest were 1988 and 2019 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Palm Desert during October averages 35%. The most humid October was 1983 at 47%, and the least humid was 2019 at 23%.
October receives about 4.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Palm Desert. The sunniest October was 2019 at 5.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1987 and 2010 at 4.4.
Average wind speed in Palm Desert during October is 1.9 m/s. The windiest Octobers were 1981 and 2007 at 2.3 m/s, while the calmest were 1987, 2014 and 2022 at 1.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 21.1°C | 22.3°C | 22.1°C | 22.9°C | 24.1°C | +3°C |
| Avg High | 28.2°C | 29.7°C | 29.2°C | 30.0°C | 31.2°C | +3°C |
| Avg Low | 14.0°C | 15.0°C | 15.0°C | 15.8°C | 17.0°C | +3°C |
| Avg Rain | 15 mm | 7 mm | 15 mm | 11 mm | 5 mm | -9 mm |
October temperatures in Palm Desert have risen by about 3.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of 3.3°C (1991) to a record high of 42.7°C (2024).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 11 mm, with a wettest year of 85 mm.
One of the best times to visit Palm Desert
October is one of the best times to visit Palm Desert. Expect days averaging 29.5°C and nights around 15.2°C (mean 22.4°C) — warmer than Palm Desert's yearly average — with low rainfall (11 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 | 30.3°C | 23.1°C | 15.9°C | 33.5°C | 10.3°C | 7 mm | 38% | 1.8 m/s | 5 |
| 2024 🔥 | 33.9°C | 26.7°C | 19.5°C | 42.7°C | 9.0°C | 0 mm | 24% | 1.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2023 | 31.2°C | 23.8°C | 16.4°C | 38.4°C | 9.6°C | 0 mm | 32% | 2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2022 | 30.1°C | 24.2°C | 18.2°C | 35.2°C | 8.9°C | 15 mm | 39% | 1.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2021 | 27.9°C | 20.9°C | 13.9°C | 34.4°C | 8.1°C | 8 mm | 37% | 2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2020 | 33.5°C | 25.9°C | 18.3°C | 40.1°C | 8.0°C | 1 mm | 26% | 2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2019 | 29.2°C | 21.6°C | 14.1°C | 35.2°C | 4.7°C | 0 mm | 23% | 2.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2018 | 28.3°C | 21.8°C | 15.3°C | 32.9°C | 8.7°C | 23 mm | 43% | 1.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2017 | 31.9°C | 24.1°C | 16.3°C | 36.2°C | 10.9°C | 0 mm | 27% | 2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2016 | 31.3°C | 23.9°C | 16.4°C | 35.3°C | 11.5°C | 4 mm | 36% | 1.9 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2015 | 30.4°C | 24.3°C | 18.2°C | 35.7°C | 12.6°C | 12 mm | 42% | 1.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2014 | 31.9°C | 24.8°C | 17.7°C | 36.7°C | 11.9°C | 1 mm | 31% | 1.6 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2013 | 27.7°C | 20.3°C | 12.9°C | 35.1°C | 7.3°C | 12 mm | 33% | 2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2012 | 30.7°C | 23.3°C | 15.9°C | 40.2°C | 10.2°C | 2 mm | 34% | 2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2011 | 30.8°C | 23.6°C | 16.4°C | 36.8°C | 9.0°C | 9 mm | 29% | 2 m/s | 5 |
| 2010 | 27.9°C | 21.5°C | 15.0°C | 36.9°C | 7.7°C | 43 mm | 47% | 1.9 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2009 | 28.1°C | 20.7°C | 13.3°C | 36.0°C | 5.1°C | 1 mm | 33% | 2.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2008 | 30.9°C | 23.6°C | 16.4°C | 37.7°C | 6.5°C | 1 mm | 24% | 2.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2007 | 28.9°C | 21.4°C | 14.0°C | 35.2°C | 7.8°C | 1 mm | 32% | 2.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2006 | 27.8°C | 20.6°C | 13.4°C | 35.4°C | 8.5°C | 7 mm | 37% | 1.9 m/s | 5 |
| 2005 | 28.5°C | 21.3°C | 14.1°C | 36.2°C | 10.7°C | 42 mm | 42% | 1.9 m/s | 5 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 27.0°C | 20.6°C | 14.1°C | 35.8°C | 7.0°C | 85 mm | 45% | 2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2003 | 33.6°C | 26.4°C | 19.3°C | 37.8°C | 8.5°C | 0 mm | 28% | 1.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2002 | 28.4°C | 21.1°C | 13.9°C | 36.1°C | 9.2°C | 1 mm | 39% | 1.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2001 | 32.1°C | 24.7°C | 17.2°C | 35.3°C | 13.8°C | 1 mm | 29% | 1.8 m/s | 5 |
| 2000 | 26.8°C | 20.4°C | 14.1°C | 37.2°C | 7.0°C | 15 mm | 47% | 1.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1999 | 32.6°C | 24.8°C | 17.0°C | 38.6°C | 12.0°C | 3 mm | 23% | 1.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1998 | 28.3°C | 20.8°C | 13.4°C | 33.6°C | 9.4°C | 4 mm | 35% | 2 m/s | 5 |
| 1997 | 27.3°C | 20.1°C | 12.9°C | 36.4°C | 6.9°C | 7 mm | 43% | 2.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1996 | 28.7°C | 21.2°C | 13.8°C | 38.5°C | 3.6°C | 12 mm | 32% | 2.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1995 | 30.8°C | 23.3°C | 15.8°C | 36.8°C | 8.7°C | 0 mm | 26% | 1.8 m/s | 5 |
| 1994 | 27.9°C | 20.8°C | 13.7°C | 33.6°C | 9.1°C | 5 mm | 34% | 1.9 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1993 | 29.2°C | 21.9°C | 14.7°C | 37.8°C | 9.6°C | 2 mm | 34% | 2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1992 | 29.8°C | 22.9°C | 15.9°C | 36.6°C | 10.1°C | 25 mm | 38% | 1.8 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1991 | 31.4°C | 24.2°C | 16.9°C | 38.8°C | 3.3°C | 11 mm | 32% | 2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1990 | 30.5°C | 23.0°C | 15.5°C | 34.4°C | 9.1°C | 2 mm | 28% | 1.8 m/s | 5 |
| 1989 | 28.6°C | 21.1°C | 13.7°C | 35.1°C | 6.7°C | 6 mm | 34% | 2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1988 | 32.2°C | 25.0°C | 17.7°C | 36.9°C | 11.7°C | 0 mm | 31% | 1.7 m/s | 5 |
| 1987 | 29.3°C | 22.9°C | 16.6°C | 38.3°C | 10.5°C | 72 mm | 44% | 1.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1986 | 26.8°C | 19.8°C | 12.8°C | 31.5°C | 7.4°C | 22 mm | 40% | 1.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1985 | 28.2°C | 21.3°C | 14.4°C | 35.1°C | 9.8°C | 6 mm | 38% | 1.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1984 ❄️ | 26.4°C | 19.1°C | 11.7°C | 33.8°C | 6.4°C | 4 mm | 37% | 2.2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1983 | 28.0°C | 21.4°C | 14.7°C | 31.7°C | 11.4°C | 13 mm | 47% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 27.8°C | 20.3°C | 12.8°C | 32.6°C | 7.9°C | 4 mm | 29% | 2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 26.6°C | 19.3°C | 11.9°C | 32.6°C | 6.5°C | 5 mm | 36% | 2.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 29.5°C with lows near 15.2°C (mean 22.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 11 mm of rainfall in Palm Desert, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 85 mm in 2004.
The hottest October reached 42.7°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to 3.3°C in 1991.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 3.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 27.4°C to 30.7°C and overnight lows from 13.1°C to 16.8°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Palm Desert and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 29.5°C daytime highs and 15.2°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 7th coolest month in Palm Desert, averaging 22.4°C.
For October in Palm Desert, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 29.5°C and lows of 15.2°C.
Relative humidity in October averages 35% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in October is 1.9 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 2.3 m/s (1981).
The wettest October on record was 2004 with 85 mm. On average, October sees 11 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 October, 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 October specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
