A Wayne Routledge strike just before the break kept Iain Dowie's Eagles in touch with the play offs as promotion certs Norwich City stumbled at Selhurst Park.
The 18-year-old Eagles forward scored his fifth of the season to give Palace a deserved win.
The gale force wind played havoc for both sides and indeed prevented any kind of game plan but even so top of the table Norwich will be disappointed with their performance.
Palace's new keeper Nico Vaesen, on loan from Birmingham, had to wait 70 minutes to make his first save - a low stop from Matt Svensson.
Then near the end Vaesen was called on to make an excellent reaction save to deny former Palace man Leon McKenzie from grabbing a late equaliser.
But it was all too late for the leaders. Although an untidy match, Palace were fired up for this one in front of their biggest crowd of the season of 23,798, boosted by the 7,700 travelling Norwich supporters.
Like Norwich, Palace did not have that many chances. But Routledge latched on to the one that mattered.
Mark Hudson passed to Julian Gray on the left by-line and the clever Eagles winger curled a dangerous cross which Tony Popovic hurled himself at, but in the mayhem City couldn't clear and the ball fell nicely to Routledge who struck a fierce right-footed angled shot from 12 yards which flew high into the top corner.
Dowie said after the match: "It was a great performance and the lads answered me in a resounding manner.
"I was pleased with Nico Vaesen, he made two great saves at a time when Norwich came at us in the second half." Norwich boss, Nigel Worthington, said: "I am disappointed with the performance and the weather affected the game.
"Their keeper had more to do than ours, but Palace got the breaks on the day. We have got nine games left, 27 points and we'll be flat out to get as many points from those as possible."