What is the hottest month at Joshua Tree?

July, with an average high of 104°F and an average low of 77°F at Twentynine Palms (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 154 days a year at or above 90°F.

How cold does Joshua Tree get in winter?

December is the coldest month, averaging a low of 40°F and a high of 62°F at Twentynine Palms. About 17 nights a year drop to freezing or below.

Does it snow at Joshua Tree?

Twentynine Palms records almost no snowfall (no snow normals). Higher elevations in the park can differ.

When is the rainy season at Joshua Tree?

August is the wettest month on average (0.7 inches of precipitation at Twentynine Palms); the station's annual total is 3.9 inches.

How many hours of daylight does Joshua Tree get?

About 14h 24m on June 15 and 9h 55m on December 15 (sunrise 5:32 AM, sunset 7:56 PM in June; 6:41 AM to 4:36 PM in December, America/Los Angeles time).

What is the best month to visit Joshua Tree for weather?

By NOAA's normals, average highs sit between 55°F and 85°F in January, February, March, April, October, November and December. Of those, October is also well below the park's peak crowds. Weather in the park varies with elevation; this is the Twentynine Palms station.

Weather by month

Joshua Tree weather, month by month

Last verified October 6, 2026NOAA 1991–2020 normalsAmerica/Los Angeles time

Average highs, lows, rain, snow and daylight for every month. Measured at the Twentynine Palms (1,975 ft, 1.2 mi from Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center).

The sky turns hues of pink and purple over a field of Joshua trees. — Photo: NPS / Emily Hassell

Jul high: 104°F; hottest month
Dec low: 40°F; coldest month
Rain + snowmelt: 3.9in / yr; wettest: Aug
Snowfall: —in / yr; rare
Days ≥ 90°F: 154/ yr
Nights ≤ 32°F: 17/ yr

Twentynine Palms

Month by month

Normals are 30-year averages (1991–2020). Crowds = each month’s share of the park’s busiest month, from NPS visitor counts. Sunrise and sunset are for the 15th of each month in 2027.

Average high and low, every monthbars run from the low to the high · tan strip = precipitation

Month	High	Low	Rain	Wet days	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Crowds
Jan	63°	42°	0.5″	4	6:48 AM	4:57 PM	10h 09m	64
Feb	67°	44°	0.6″	3	6:28 AM	5:27 PM	10h 59m	72
Mar	74°	49°	0.3″	2	6:54 AM	6:51 PM	11h 57m	100
Apr	81°	55°	0.1″	1	6:13 AM	7:14 PM	13h 01m	89
May	90°	63°	0.1″	1	5:42 AM	7:37 PM	13h 55m	62
Jun	99°	71°	0.0″	0	5:32 AM	7:56 PM	14h 24m	43
Jul	104°	77°	0.4″	2	5:43 AM	7:55 PM	14h 12m	33
Aug	103°	76°	0.7″	2	6:05 AM	7:31 PM	13h 26m	34
Sep	97°	69°	0.3″	2	6:27 AM	6:51 PM	12h 24m	39
Oct	85°	58°	0.1″	1	6:48 AM	6:10 PM	11h 22m	51
Nov	72°	47°	0.2″	1	6:16 AM	4:40 PM	10h 25m	76
Dec	62°	40°	0.6″	2	6:41 AM	4:36 PM	9h 55m	83

Sweet spot: October combines average highs between 55°F and 85°F with crowds under 60% of the peak month. Check what is open in those months — quiet can also mean closed roads.

How to read this

These are NOAA’s official 1991–2020 climate normals for one weather station, not a model of the whole park. The station is the one with complete temperature and precipitation normals nearest to a visitor center. Highs and lows are daily averages for the month; “wet days” are days with at least 0.01 inch of precipitation. Mountain parks can be 10–20 °F cooler at their high points than at the station, and the NPS weather page for Joshua Tree is the place for current conditions and seasonal closures.

Sunrise and sunset are computed with the NOAA solar equations for the park’s coordinates and shown in America/Los Angeles time for the 15th of each month of 2027; they are accurate to about a minute.

Sources · 3

1.U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — monthly normals station inventory · National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA)
2.Joshua Tree National Park — Weather (nps.gov) · National Park Service
3.Joshua Tree National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

FAQ

Joshua Tree weather questions

What is the hottest month at Joshua Tree?: July, with an average high of 104°F and an average low of 77°F at Twentynine Palms (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 154 days a year at or above 90°F.
How cold does Joshua Tree get in winter?: December is the coldest month, averaging a low of 40°F and a high of 62°F at Twentynine Palms. About 17 nights a year drop to freezing or below.
Does it snow at Joshua Tree?: Twentynine Palms records almost no snowfall (no snow normals). Higher elevations in the park can differ.
When is the rainy season at Joshua Tree?: August is the wettest month on average (0.7 inches of precipitation at Twentynine Palms); the station's annual total is 3.9 inches.
How many hours of daylight does Joshua Tree get?: About 14h 24m on June 15 and 9h 55m on December 15 (sunrise 5:32 AM, sunset 7:56 PM in June; 6:41 AM to 4:36 PM in December, America/Los Angeles time).
What is the best month to visit Joshua Tree for weather?: By NOAA's normals, average highs sit between 55°F and 85°F in January, February, March, April, October, November and December. Of those, October is also well below the park's peak crowds. Weather in the park varies with elevation; this is the Twentynine Palms station.

Park'd · free on iPhone & Android

Plan Joshua Tree for the right month.

Park'd keeps your parks, trips and photos in one place — and tells you what to do once you're there.