ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Moab vs Palm Springs Desert: weather in May
Palm Springs Desert edges out Moab for sun in May: 98% clear historically versus 73% (8-year ERA5 average, a 25-point gap). Both are viable — Palm Springs Desert is the safer bet.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific May. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Moab
UT
- Clear days, May
- 73%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 81°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 68%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 77%
- Rain frequency
- 9% of days
Palm Springs Desert
CA
- Clear days, May
- 98%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 95°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 98%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 98%
- Rain frequency
- 1% of days
Compare Moab 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.