ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Big Sur vs Palm Desert: weather in February
Palm Desert is the clear winner for sun in February: 46% of days historically clear versus just 5% in Big Sur — a 41-point gap across 8 years of ERA5 data. Big Sur also sees measurably more rain than Palm Desert this month (30% vs 12% of days). This isn't close.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific February. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Big Sur
CA
- Clear days, February
- 5%
- Sample size
- n=226 days
- Avg high
- 60°F
- Early February (1st–15th)
- 10%
- Late February (16th–end)
- 0%
- Rain frequency
- 30% of days
Palm Desert
CA
- Clear days, February
- 46%
- Sample size
- n=226 days
- Avg high
- 71°F
- Early February (1st–15th)
- 42%
- Late February (16th–end)
- 50%
- Rain frequency
- 12% of days
Compare Big Sur vs Palm Desert in another month
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.