Skip to main content
SunnyDays

ERA5 almanac — 8 years of real data

Palm Springs Desert in December

Palm Springs Desert in December is historically a poor month for sun: only 30% of days clear across 8 years (n=248, avg high 69°F). Historical average, not a forecast.

What you are reading: 8-year historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis, not a forecast. A month that is historically 90% clear can still be overcast on your specific trip. For this week’s actual forecast, see the live Palm Springs Desert page. Both can be true at once: “historically strong in this month; this particular week is not.” We label which is which.

Early vs. Late December

Clear-sky percentage for Palm Springs Desert in December, split by half-month. “n” is the number of days sampled across 8 years (2018–2025).
Period % Clear days Sample (n) Avg high
Early December
1st–15th		 37% n=120 69°F
Late December
16th–end		 23% n=128 69°F
Full month average 30% n=248 69°F

Bottom line

Palm Springs Desert is mostly overcast in December historically: only 30% of days are clear across 8 years (n=248), avg high 69°F. Most visitors this month will see more clouds than sun.

Every month in Palm Springs Desert

Compare across all months with data. Numbers are historical clear-sky %.

Historical clear-sky % for Palm Springs Desert, all months, ERA5 2018–2025.
Month % Clear Sample (n)
January 30% n=248 All destinations →
February 50% n=226 All destinations →
March 59% n=248 All destinations →
April 94% n=240 All destinations →
May 98% n=248 All destinations →
June 98% n=240 All destinations →
July 99% n=248 All destinations →
August 94% n=248 All destinations →
September 94% n=240 All destinations →
October 95% n=248 All destinations →
November 72% n=240 All destinations →
December ← this page 30% n=248 All destinations →

All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.