Palm Springs weather in December

In December, Palm Springs sees average daytime highs of 74°F and overnight lows near 67°F, with 1.7 in of rain across 7.4 wet days and about 10.4 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 74°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 24 min at the start of December to 10 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Palm Springs's 6th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Palm Springs's year-round climate.

Daytime high
74°
10th warmest
Overnight low
67°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
1.7 in
7.4 wet days
Daylight
10 h 18 min
7:06 AM – 5:27 PM
Cloud cover
55%
6th clearest
Wind
10 mph
4th windiest
Solar energy
3.09 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.3
out of 10

Palm Springs is village in Florida, United States.

Density
2,579/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 74°F through the month.

A typical December day in Palm Springs reaches about 74°F in the afternoon and slips back to 67°F overnight — a 6°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 67°F and 78°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 3°F cooler than November and about 2°F warmer than January.

50°60°70°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17569
27569
37569
47569
57569
67468
77468
87468
97468
107468
117468
127467
137467
147467
157467
167367
177367
187367
197367
207367
217366
227366
237366
247366
257366
267366
277366
287366
297366
307265
317265

How December really feels in Palm Springs

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Palm Springs weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan72° / 64°2.07.110.57.2
Feb73° / 65°1.96.511.17.4
Mar74° / 67°2.67.811.87.4
Apr77° / 71°2.68.412.67.2
May80° / 75°4.012.413.36.3
Jun83° / 78°6.521.113.64.2
Jul85° / 79°5.322.513.53.7
Aug85° / 80°6.524.212.93.5
Sep84° / 79°7.023.312.23.8
Oct81° / 76°4.515.111.45.7
Nov77° / 71°2.29.310.77.1
Dec74° / 67°1.77.410.47.3

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 24% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 45%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16040
26040
36139
46139
56139
66139
76139
86139
96040
106040
115842
125743
135743
145545
155446
165248
175248
185149
195149
205050
215050
225050
235050
245050
255149
265149
275149
285248
295248
305446
315545

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Palm Springs gets around 1.7 in of rain over 7.4 wet days in December, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 25% and peaks near 29% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
129
228
328
428
528
628
728
827
927
1026
1126
1225
1324
1423
1523
1622
1722
1822
1922
2022
2122
2222
2322
2422
2523
2623
2723
2824
2924
3024
3124

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the muggy band about 34% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 44% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
11015283314
21115273314
31115273414
41214263414
51214263414
61314253414
71314243514
81414243514
91414233513
101514233513
111514233513
121615223512
131615223512
141616223511
151716223411
161717223410
171817223410
181818213310
19181821339
20181821339
21191921338
22191921338
23191922328
24191922328
25191922338
26191921338
27201821338
28201821338
29211721347
30221721347
31221621347

Wind in December

Winds average 10 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 10 mph on the calmest days to 10 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light breeze
610light breeze
710light breeze
810light breeze
910light breeze
1010light breeze
1110light breeze
1210light breeze
1310light breeze
1410light breeze
1510light breeze
1610light breeze
1710light breeze
1810light breeze
1910light breeze
2010light breeze
2110light breeze
2210light breeze
2310light breeze
2410light breeze
2510light breeze
2610light breeze
2710light breeze
2810light breeze
2910light breeze
3010light breeze
3110light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 24 min at the start of December to 10 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:57 AM to 7:13 AM, and sunset from 5:24 PM to 5:34 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.46:575:24
210.46:575:24
310.46:585:24
410.46:595:24
510.47:005:24
610.47:005:24
710.47:015:24
810.47:025:24
910.47:025:25
1010.47:035:25
1110.47:035:25
1210.47:045:25
1310.37:055:26
1410.37:055:26
1510.37:065:26
1610.37:065:27
1710.37:075:27
1810.37:085:27
1910.37:085:28
2010.37:095:28
2110.37:095:29
2210.37:105:29
2310.37:105:30
2410.37:115:30
2510.37:115:31
2610.37:115:31
2710.37:125:32
2810.37:125:32
2910.37:125:33
3010.37:135:33
3110.37:135:34

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.09 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.09 kWh/m² to a high of 6.32 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 3.09 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.2Moderate
23.2Moderate
33.2Moderate
43.2Moderate
53.1Moderate
63.1Moderate
73.1Moderate
83.1Moderate
93.1Moderate
103.1Moderate
113.1Moderate
123.1Moderate
133.1Moderate
143.1Moderate
153.1Moderate
163.1Moderate
173.0Moderate
183.0Moderate
193.0Moderate
203.0Moderate
213.0Moderate
223.0Moderate
233.1Moderate
243.1Moderate
253.1Moderate
263.1Moderate
273.1Moderate
283.1Moderate
293.1Moderate
303.1Moderate
313.1Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Palm Springs

In seasonPeak

None of Palm Springs's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Palm Springs sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Palm Springs's rainy season runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

Atlantic hurricane
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Palm Springs?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

7.3
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
5.7
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

December is one of the better times to visit Palm Springs for general sightseeing.

What to pack for Palm Springs in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Palm Springs sees daytime highs around 74°F and nights near 67°F. Worth packing: light clothes. About 7 days see rain.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Palm Springs in December

The nearest coast averages about 79°F in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 14 mi away) is warmest in August at about 85°F and coldest in February near 77°F.

The water stays above 68°F all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

75°80°85°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan77Warm
Feb77Warm
Mar77Warm
Apr79Warm
May81Warm
Jun83Tropical
Jul85Tropical
Aug85Tropical
Sep85Tropical
Oct83Tropical
Nov81Warm
Dec79Warm

UV index in Palm Springs in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Palm Springs peaks around July 12 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 5 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 12UV 11Dec 18UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan5High
Feb7Very high
Mar9Very high
Apr9Very high
May9Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep9Very high
Oct8Very high
Nov6High
Dec5Moderate

Air quality in Palm Springs in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Palm Springs is worst in July — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1819 µg/m³Dec 138 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr11Good
May11Good
Jun15Moderate
Jul20Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Palm Springs?

Palm Springs sits at 26.6°N, 80.1°W, 10 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Lake Worth Corridor, 1.2 mi away.

Topography around Palm Springs

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Palm Springs.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Palm Springs has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 46 ft around an average of 20 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 154 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 203 ft.

The land around Palm Springs is covered by artificial surfaces (65%) and trees (21%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (33%) and water (33%) within 10 miles, and water (39%) and wetland (22%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
46 ft
10 miles
154 ft
50 miles
203 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Lake Worth Corridor 1.2 mi · Lake Worth Beach 1.9 mi · Greenacres City 1.9 mi · West Palm Beach 6.2 mi · Boynton Beach 8.1 mi · Wellington 9.3 mi · Royal Palm Beach 9.9 mi · Riviera Beach 9.9 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Palm Springs (26.6359°, -80.0961°, elevation 10 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).