Sunshine hours in Calgary: 2,396 hours a year, month by month

Calgary gets 2,396 hours of sunshine a year on average (6.6 a day). Sunniest month: July with 314 hours. Every month, measured 1981–2005.

• Calgary gets 2,396 hours of sunshine a year on average, 6.6 a day – 53% of the astronomically possible. The sunniest month is July with 314 hours (10.1 a day), the dullest December with 114 (3.7 a day).
• Number 3 of 69 large cities in Canada.
• Nearest weather station: Calgary Int'l A, 8 km away – 1981–2005 average, Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Sunshine hours month by month

• January: 120 h · 3.9 h a day · 46 %
• February: 145 h · 5.2 h a day · 52 %
• March: 177 h · 5.7 h a day · 48 %
• April: 220 h · 7.3 h a day · 53 %
• May: 249 h · 8.0 h a day · 52 %
• June: 270 h · 9.0 h a day · 55 %
• July: 314 h · 10.1 h a day · 63 %
• August: 284 h · 9.2 h a day · 63 %
• September: 207 h · 6.9 h a day · 55 %
• October: 175 h · 5.6 h a day · 53 %
• November: 121 h · 4.0 h a day · 45 %
• December: 114 h · 3.7 h a day · 46 %

Questions about sunshine hours

• How many hours of sunshine does Calgary get a year? On average over 1981–2005 the sun shines in Calgary for 2,396 hours a year – 6.6 hours a day and 53% of the time the sun is above the horizon.
• What is the sunniest month in Calgary? July, with 314 hours of sunshine, 10.1 a day on average. The least sun comes in December: 114 hours, 3.7 a day.
• Is Calgary a sunny city? Among the 69 large cities in Canada with measurements, Calgary ranks number 3.
• Where do the figures come from? From the 1981–2010 climate normals of Environment and Climate Change Canada. There are no newer ones: Canada no longer measures sunshine duration. Calgary uses the station Calgary Int'l A, measured 1981–2005.
• 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 Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada – climate normals 1981–2010 of bright sunshine, 1981–2005 average. Possible hours: time between sunrise and sunset.