Palm Springs Weather in January 2026
“Mild and bright — an underrated time to visit.”
Roughly 4 rainy days across the month, on average.
January is Palm Springs at its most pleasant, with highs of 19.2°C (66.6°F) and cool desert nights dropping to 9.5°C (49.1°F). Rainfall totals 44mm across 4 days, and sunshine averages 8.8 hours daily. Snowbirds pack the golf resorts, mid-century modern rentals fill for the season, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway shuttles visitors from desert floor to snowy Mount San Jacinto in fifteen dramatic minutes.
Cultural life hums. The Palm Springs International Film Festival runs across the first two weeks, drawing Hollywood premieres and packed screenings. New Year's Eve carries into celebratory January weekends, and boutique gallery openings across Uptown Design District fill Thursday evenings. Downtown VillageFest street market runs every Thursday evening on Palm Canyon Drive.
The eleven-year record from 2015 to 2025 shows January highs rising by 0.9°C, and drought years have grown more frequent, though 2023's atmospheric river event delivered a wet outlier. Modeling for 2026 leans toward a normal-to-mild January with average rainfall.
Travelers in 2026 should book hotels three-plus months ahead as this is snowbird peak. Rates at Parker Palm Springs and La Quinta Resort hit yearly highs. Plan the tramway for morning slots and film festival tickets weeks ahead. January 2026 is Palm Springs at its most polished, with perfect weather and a full cultural calendar drawing repeat visitors year after year.
Palm Springs is a city of neighborhoods defined by mid-century architects: Twin Palms is Alexander tract, Movie Colony is where old Hollywood built, and Deepwell has Kaufmann House by Neutra. The Uptown Design District is where locals actually walk; Palm Canyon Drive downtown is for out-of-towners. VillageFest Thursday nights closes the main drag. The Tramway rotating cars are engineering theater and the temperature swing from 45C to 15C in 10 minutes shocks first-timers.
What to pack for Palm Springs in January
January's warm days and cool desert nights suggest versatile layers:
- Light sweaters and long-sleeve tops
- Jeans or trousers plus a pair of shorts
- Comfortable walking shoes and one dress-casual pair
- Warm jacket for tramway summit and night dining
- Sunglasses and SPF 30+
What to pack for Palm Springs in January
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Where to stay in Palm Springs
We don't review individual hotels — plenty of people do that well. What we do is send you to compare rooms in Palm Springs across trusted platforms.
Compare hotels on Booking.com→Estimated January trip to Palm Springs
Off-season pricing — good value if the weather works for you. Rule-based estimates from a couple based in London — actual prices vary.
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Delayed flight to Palm Springs?
Flights to Palm Springs in January can be delayed by storms. Claim up to €600 if yours is 3+ hours late. EU regulations cover flights departing from or arriving in the EU/UK.
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Things worth doing
Catch Palm Springs Film Festival, ride the Aerial Tramway, shop Uptown Design District, dine on Palm Canyon, day-trip Joshua Tree, VillageFest Thursday.
January vs. the rest of the year
How this month compares in Palm Springs. Tap any month to read more.
highlighted months are among the best time to visit.
Best time to visit Palm Springs
While January has its own character in Palm Springs, the data-backed best months to visit Palm Springs are February, March, April, November. These months combine the most favourable temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine across an 11-year climate record (2015–2025).
See the full best-time-to-visit guide for Palm SpringsOther places with a similar climate right now
Palm Springs in January — FAQ
Q01Is January a good month for Palm Springs?
Is January a good month for Palm Springs?
Yes — it is a good time to visit, with pleasant, comfortable weather. In January, Palm Springs averages a high of 19°C (67°F) and a low of 10°C (49°F), with 44mm of rainfall across roughly 4 rainy days. Mid-February to early March Modernism Week fills mid-century homes with tours before March desert wildflower super-bloom carpets Anza-Borrego badlands purple.
Q02How warm does Palm Springs get in January?
How warm does Palm Springs get in January?
The average high temperature in Palm Springs during January is 19°C (67°F), with an average low of 10°C (49°F). These figures are averaged from 11 complete years of daily records (2015–2025, Open-Meteo Archive). January 25C days and 5C nights; snowbirds double the population, Coachella Valley golf peaks, and San Jacinto snow visible from any pool.
Q03Does it rain a lot in Palm Springs in January?
Does it rain a lot in Palm Springs in January?
Palm Springs averages approximately 4 rainy days in January, with a total monthly rainfall of about 44mm. This is based on daily precipitation records where days with 1mm or more of rain are counted as rainy days.
Q04What clothes should I bring to Palm Springs in January?
What clothes should I bring to Palm Springs in January?
For Palm Springs in January, pack layered clothing for changing temperatures, a merino base layer for evenings, comfortable walking shoes. These recommendations are based on 11 complete years of weather averages for this specific month. A collapsible sun umbrella and cooling neck towel: shade is rare, pool decks hit 60C, and the dry heat evaporates sweat instantly.
Q05Are there many tourists in Palm Springs in January?
Are there many tourists in Palm Springs in January?
Tourist crowds in Palm Springs during January are typically moderate. Consider this when planning accommodation — prices track crowd levels closely. Palm Springs is a city of neighborhoods defined by mid-century architects: Twin Palms is Alexander tract, Movie Colony is where old Hollywood built, and Deepwell has Kaufmann House by Neutra. The Uptown Design District is where locals actually walk; Palm Canyon Drive downtown is for out-of-towners. VillageFest Thursday nights closes the main drag. The Tramway rotating cars are engineering theater and the temperature swing from 45C to 15C in 10 minutes shocks first-timers.