Sunshine hours in Memphis: 2,890 hours a year, month by month

Memphis gets 2,890 hours of sunshine a year on average (7.9 a day). Sunniest month: July with 327 hours. Every month, measured 1961–1987.

• Memphis gets 2,890 hours of sunshine a year on average, 7.9 a day – 65% of the astronomically possible. The sunniest month is July with 327 hours (10.5 a day), the dullest December with 152 (4.9 a day).
• Number 139 of 311 large cities in the United States.
• Nearest weather station: Memphis/WSCMO AP TN, 13 km away – 1961–1987 average, NOAA.

Sunshine hours month by month

• January: 167 h · 5.4 h a day · 53 %
• February: 174 h · 6.2 h a day · 57 %
• March: 215 h · 6.9 h a day · 58 %
• April: 255 h · 8.5 h a day · 65 %
• May: 302 h · 9.7 h a day · 70 %
• June: 321 h · 10.7 h a day · 74 %
• July: 327 h · 10.5 h a day · 74 %
• August: 307 h · 9.9 h a day · 74 %
• September: 251 h · 8.4 h a day · 67 %
• October: 246 h · 7.9 h a day · 70 %
• November: 173 h · 5.8 h a day · 56 %
• December: 152 h · 4.9 h a day · 50 %

Questions about sunshine hours

• How many hours of sunshine does Memphis get a year? On average over 1961–1987 the sun shines in Memphis for 2,890 hours a year – 7.9 hours a day and 65% of the time the sun is above the horizon.
• What is the sunniest month in Memphis? July, with 327 hours of sunshine, 10.5 a day on average. The least sun comes in December: 152 hours, 4.9 a day.
• Is Memphis a sunny city? Among the 311 large cities in the United States with measurements, Memphis ranks number 139.
• 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. Memphis uses the station Memphis/WSCMO AP TN, measured 1961–1987.
• 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, 1961–1987 average, public domain. Possible hours: time between sunrise and sunset.