Palm Springs, CA weather in May
May in Palm Springs: hot and dry. Highs 95°F, lows 66°F, rain is rare. Midday heat is the main thing to plan around.
- Normal high
- 95°F
- Normal low
- 66°F
- Wet days
- 0
- 0.01 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 90°F | 99°F |
| Normal low | 63°F | 69°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 1% | 0% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:57 am / 7:29 pm | 5:36 am / 7:51 pm |
| Daylight | 13.5 h | 14.2 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am68°Fdew point 47°F
- 9 am83°Fdew point 44°F
- Noon91°Fdew point 40°F
- 3 pm94°Fdew point 39°F
- 6 pm88°Fdew point 43°F
- 9 pm77°Fdew point 47°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Desert Resorts Rgnl Airport (26 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 90% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 9%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F2 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more22 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow0 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in0 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in May
Normal precipitation is 0.01 in; a dry May brings about 0.0 in and a wet one about 0.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202001: average high 101°F
- Coolest May1998: average high 84°F
- Wettest May2015: 0.1 in
- Driest May1991: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading114°F (May 31, 2012)
- Lowest reading47°F (May 1, 1999)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
May compared with April and June
| April | May | June | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 87°F | 95°F | 104°F |
| Normal low | 59°F | 66°F | 73°F |
| Wet days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Daylight | 13.0 h | 13.9 h | 14.4 h |
Highs change by +8°F from April and +9°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Furnace Creek, CA182 mi · high 101°F · 1 wet day
- Cooler: Menifee, CA35 mi · high 80°F · 1 wet day
How Palm Springs ranks in May
- Normal high4th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 60 in California
- Wet days1st driest of 378
- Comfortable days291st most of 339
What to pack for Palm Springs in May
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 95°F
- Layers – afternoons near 95°F but nights near 66°F
Heating and cooling
May has 1 heating degree days and 476 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 9% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Palm Springs in May?
The normal high is 95°F and the normal low is 66°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 114°F (most recently on May 31, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Palm Springs in May?
About 0 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.01 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (0.1 in); the driest was in 1991, with no measurable precipitation.
Is May a good time to visit Palm Springs?
May ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Palm Springs (47 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days and about 22 days at 90°F or hotter. The best months are January, February and December.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and frost dates: Palm Springs Rgnl Airport (USW00093138), 2.3 mi E of the city center, 421 ft (58 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall and snow depth: Palm Springs (USC00046635), 2.0 mi E of the city center, 425 ft (54 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Desert Resorts Rgnl Airport (USW00003104), 26 mi ESE of the city center, -118 ft (597 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Desert Resorts Rgnl Arpt (747187-03104), 26 mi ESE of the city center, -118 ft (597 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.