ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Carmel-by-the-Sea vs Palm Springs Desert: weather in February
Palm Springs Desert is the clear winner for sun in February: 50% of days historically clear versus just 3% in Carmel-by-the-Sea — a 47-point gap across 8 years of ERA5 data. Carmel-by-the-Sea also sees measurably more rain than Palm Springs Desert this month (29% vs 12% of days). This isn't close.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
CA
- Clear days, February
- 3%
- Sample size
- n=226 days
- Avg high
- 58°F
- Early February (1st–15th)
- 4%
- Late February (16th–end)
- 1%
- Rain frequency
- 29% of days
Palm Springs Desert
CA
- Clear days, February
- 50%
- Sample size
- n=226 days
- Avg high
- 71°F
- Early February (1st–15th)
- 47%
- Late February (16th–end)
- 54%
- Rain frequency
- 12% of days
Compare Carmel-by-the-Sea vs Palm Springs 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.