Sunshine hours in Des Moines: 2,691 hours a year, month by month

Des Moines gets 2,691 hours of sunshine a year on average (7.4 a day). Sunniest month: July with 338 hours. Every month, measured 1961–1990.

• Des Moines gets 2,691 hours of sunshine a year on average, 7.4 a day – 60% of the astronomically possible. The sunniest month is July with 338 hours (10.9 a day), the dullest December with 129 (4.2 a day).
• Number 194 of 311 large cities in the United States.
• Nearest weather station: Des Moines/Municipal, IA, 7 km away – 1961–1990 average, NOAA.

Sunshine hours month by month

• January: 158 h · 5.1 h a day · 53 %
• February: 163 h · 5.8 h a day · 55 %
• March: 206 h · 6.6 h a day · 56 %
• April: 222 h · 7.4 h a day · 55 %
• May: 276 h · 8.9 h a day · 61 %
• June: 312 h · 10.4 h a day · 69 %
• July: 338 h · 10.9 h a day · 73 %
• August: 298 h · 9.6 h a day · 70 %
• September: 240 h · 8.0 h a day · 64 %
• October: 210 h · 6.8 h a day · 61 %
• November: 139 h · 4.6 h a day · 47 %
• December: 129 h · 4.2 h a day · 45 %

Questions about sunshine hours

• How many hours of sunshine does Des Moines get a year? On average over 1961–1990 the sun shines in Des Moines for 2,691 hours a year – 7.4 hours a day and 60% of the time the sun is above the horizon.
• What is the sunniest month in Des Moines? July, with 338 hours of sunshine, 10.9 a day on average. The least sun comes in December: 129 hours, 4.2 a day.
• Is Des Moines a sunny city? Among the 311 large cities in the United States with measurements, Des Moines ranks number 194.
• 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. Des Moines uses the station Des Moines/Municipal, IA, measured 1961–1990.
• 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, 1961–1990 average, public domain. Possible hours: time between sunrise and sunset.