The coldest temperature ever recorded in Palm Springs was 19°F, on January 22, 1937.

While Palm Springs is best known for extreme heat, it has experienced a handful of surprisingly cold days over the years. According to records from the National Weather Service, rare winter conditions have occasionally pushed desert temperatures well below freezing.

The Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in Palm Springs

19°F — January 22, 1937

Brrrr. January 22, 1937 remains the coldest day ever recorded in Palm Springs, with a bone-chilling overnight low of just 19 degrees. That is not a typo. That is colder than many people would ever expect the desert to get.

Other Record Low Temperatures in Palm Springs

22°F — January 14, 1963

The second coldest temperature on record occurred on January 14, 1963, when Palm Springs dropped to 22 degrees.

23°F — Multiple Dates

Palm Springs has reached 23 degrees several times in recorded history:

• January 12, 1977
• November 16, 1964
• January 12, 1962
• January 3, 1960
• December 25, 1963 (Santa probably wasn’t thrilled)
• January 28, 1948
• January 19, 1943
• January 24, 1937

All of the temperatures above represent overnight lows.

Coldest Daytime High Temperatures in Palm Springs

As cold as those overnight lows were, there have also been days where Palm Springs never really warmed up at all. Many of these occurred during the unusually chilly 1930s.

38°F — December 12, 1932

The coldest daytime high temperature ever recorded in Palm Springs was just 38 degrees on December 12, 1932.

42°F — Two Occasions

• January 13, 1949
• January 11, 1930

44°F — Two Occasions

• December 14, 1967
• January 11, 1949

45°F — Three Occasions

A trio of days only saw daytime highs reach 45 degrees, which had to be especially rough in a town where jackets are mostly decorative:

• February 4, 1939
• February 16, 1932
• January 15, 1932

46°F — January 21–22, 1937

For two straight days in January 1937, the daytime high temperature only reached 46 degrees.

Why These Cold Temperatures Are So Rare

Extreme cold in Palm Springs is uncommon due to its desert climate, but it can happen under the right conditions. Clear skies, very dry air, and calm winds allow heat to escape rapidly overnight, especially during winter cold snaps.

Many of the coldest records date back to the 1930s, a period known for broader climate extremes across the region.

Bottom Line

Palm Springs may be famous for its heat, but history shows that it can get shockingly cold on rare occasions. While temperatures like 19°F are extremely unlikely to happen again anytime soon, winter nights in the desert can still drop lower than most people expect.

If you’re visiting in winter, yes, you should probably pack a jacket.

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Related: The Hottest Temperatures Ever Recorded in Palm Springs