Sunshine hours in Halifax: 1,962 hours a year, month by month

Halifax gets 1,962 hours of sunshine a year on average (5.4 a day). Sunniest month: July with 235 hours. Every month, measured 1981–2001.

• Halifax gets 1,962 hours of sunshine a year on average, 5.4 a day – 44% of the astronomically possible. The sunniest month is July with 235 hours (7.6 a day), the dullest December with 105 (3.4 a day).
• Number 42 of 69 large cities in Canada.
• Nearest weather station: Shearwater A, 6 km away – 1981–2001 average, Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Sunshine hours month by month

• January: 109 h · 3.5 h a day · 38 %
• February: 127 h · 4.5 h a day · 43 %
• March: 143 h · 4.6 h a day · 39 %
• April: 157 h · 5.2 h a day · 39 %
• May: 193 h · 6.2 h a day · 42 %
• June: 221 h · 7.4 h a day · 48 %
• July: 235 h · 7.6 h a day · 50 %
• August: 227 h · 7.3 h a day · 52 %
• September: 180 h · 6.0 h a day · 48 %
• October: 158 h · 5.1 h a day · 46 %
• November: 107 h · 3.6 h a day · 37 %
• December: 105 h · 3.4 h a day · 38 %

Questions about sunshine hours

• How many hours of sunshine does Halifax get a year? On average over 1981–2001 the sun shines in Halifax for 1,962 hours a year – 5.4 hours a day and 44% of the time the sun is above the horizon.
• What is the sunniest month in Halifax? July, with 235 hours of sunshine, 7.6 a day on average. The least sun comes in December: 105 hours, 3.4 a day.
• Is Halifax a sunny city? Among the 69 large cities in Canada with measurements, Halifax ranks number 42.
• 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. Halifax uses the station Shearwater A, measured 1981–2001.
• 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, 1981–2001 average. Possible hours: time between sunrise and sunset.