Sunshine hours in Minneapolis: 2,711 hours a year, month by month

Minneapolis gets 2,711 hours of sunshine a year on average (7.4 a day). Sunniest month: July with 351 hours. Every month, measured 1961–1990.

• Minneapolis gets 2,711 hours of sunshine a year on average, 7.4 a day – 61% of the astronomically possible. The sunniest month is July with 351 hours (11.3 a day), the dullest November with 113 (3.8 a day).
• Number 184 of 311 large cities in the United States.
• Nearest weather station: Minneapolis/Int'l Arpt MN, 11 km away – 1961–1990 average, NOAA.

Sunshine hours month by month

• January: 157 h · 5.1 h a day · 55 %
• February: 178 h · 6.4 h a day · 61 %
• March: 218 h · 7.0 h a day · 59 %
• April: 242 h · 8.1 h a day · 60 %
• May: 295 h · 9.5 h a day · 64 %
• June: 322 h · 10.7 h a day · 69 %
• July: 351 h · 11.3 h a day · 74 %
• August: 307 h · 9.9 h a day · 71 %
• September: 233 h · 7.8 h a day · 62 %
• October: 181 h · 5.8 h a day · 53 %
• November: 113 h · 3.8 h a day · 39 %
• December: 114 h · 3.7 h a day · 42 %

Questions about sunshine hours

• How many hours of sunshine does Minneapolis get a year? On average over 1961–1990 the sun shines in Minneapolis for 2,711 hours a year – 7.4 hours a day and 61% of the time the sun is above the horizon.
• What is the sunniest month in Minneapolis? July, with 351 hours of sunshine, 11.3 a day on average. The least sun comes in November: 113 hours, 3.8 a day.
• Is Minneapolis a sunny city? Among the 311 large cities in the United States with measurements, Minneapolis ranks number 184.
• 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. Minneapolis uses the station Minneapolis/Int'l Arpt MN, 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.