Sunshine hours in Birmingham: 2,642 hours a year, month by month

Birmingham gets 2,642 hours of sunshine a year on average (7.2 a day). Sunniest month: May with 283 hours. Every month, measured 1961–1989.

• Birmingham gets 2,642 hours of sunshine a year on average, 7.2 a day – 59% of the astronomically possible. The sunniest month is May with 283 hours (9.1 a day), the dullest January with 150 (4.8 a day).
• Number 206 of 311 large cities in the United States.
• Nearest weather station: Birmingham/WSFO AL, 6 km away – 1961–1989 average, NOAA.

Sunshine hours month by month

• January: 150 h · 4.8 h a day · 47 %
• February: 160 h · 5.7 h a day · 52 %
• March: 219 h · 7.1 h a day · 59 %
• April: 248 h · 8.3 h a day · 63 %
• May: 283 h · 9.1 h a day · 66 %
• June: 281 h · 9.4 h a day · 65 %
• July: 264 h · 8.5 h a day · 60 %
• August: 261 h · 8.4 h a day · 63 %
• September: 224 h · 7.5 h a day · 60 %
• October: 232 h · 7.5 h a day · 66 %
• November: 166 h · 5.5 h a day · 53 %
• December: 154 h · 5.0 h a day · 50 %

Questions about sunshine hours

• How many hours of sunshine does Birmingham get a year? On average over 1961–1989 the sun shines in Birmingham for 2,642 hours a year – 7.2 hours a day and 59% of the time the sun is above the horizon.
• What is the sunniest month in Birmingham? May, with 283 hours of sunshine, 9.1 a day on average. The least sun comes in January: 150 hours, 4.8 a day.
• Is Birmingham a sunny city? Among the 311 large cities in the United States with measurements, Birmingham ranks number 206.
• Where do the figures come from? From the WMO climate normals 1961–1990 as archived by NOAA. There are no newer figures: the US stopped measuring sunshine duration in the 1990s. Birmingham uses the station Birmingham/WSFO AL, measured 1961–1989.
• What counts as an hour of sunshine? By the World Meteorological Organization's definition the sun is shining once its direct radiation exceeds 120 watts per square metre. Just after sunrise and before sunset it is often too weak – which is why even deserts never reach 100%.

The sunniest large cities: United States

• 1. Phoenix: 3,873 h a year
• 2. Las Vegas: 3,826 h a year
• 3. Tucson: 3,806 h a year
• 4. Reno: 3,647 h a year
• 5. Sacramento: 3,609 h a year
• 6. Fresno: 3,565 h a year
• 7. Chico: 3,542 h a year
• 8. Colorado Springs: 3,463 h a year
• 9. Albuquerque: 3,414 h a year
• 10. Amarillo: 3,298 h a year

The cloudiest large cities: United States

• 1. Pittsburgh: 1,972 h a year
• 2. Anchorage: 2,063 h a year
• 3. Syracuse: 2,120 h a year
• 4. Seattle: 2,170 h a year
• 5. Columbus: 2,182 h a year
• 6. Grand Rapids: 2,188 h a year
• 7. Buffalo: 2,206 h a year
• 8. Meads: 2,259 h a year
• 9. Cleveland: 2,281 h a year
• 10. Rochester: 2,299 h a year

The sunniest large cities in the world

• 1. Mexicali: 4,017 h a year
• 2. Phoenix: 3,873 h a year
• 3. Las Vegas: 3,826 h a year
• 4. Tucson: 3,806 h a year
• 5. Ciudad Juárez: 3,763 h a year
• 6. Reno: 3,647 h a year
• 7. Dubai: 3,610 h a year
• 8. Sacramento: 3,609 h a year
• 9. Victoria de Durango: 3,573 h a year
• 10. Fresno: 3,565 h a year

The cloudiest large cities in the world

• 1. Chengdu: 962 h a year
• 2. Chongqing: 985 h a year
• 3. Sukabumi: 1,082 h a year
• 4. Glasgow: 1,153 h a year
• 5. Tanjung Pinang: 1,172 h a year
• 6. Medan: 1,201 h a year
• 7. Samarinda: 1,275 h a year
• 8. Sungai Penuh: 1,311 h a year
• 9. Limerick: 1,339 h a year
• 10. Huaihua: 1,352 h a year

• Data: NOAA, WMO climate normals of sunshine duration, 1961–1989 average, public domain. Possible hours: time between sunrise and sunset.