Sunshine hours in Ottawa: 2,083 hours a year, month by month

Ottawa gets 2,083 hours of sunshine a year on average (5.7 a day). Sunniest month: July with 279 hours. Every month, measured 1981–2002.

• Ottawa gets 2,083 hours of sunshine a year on average, 5.7 a day – 47% of the astronomically possible. The sunniest month is July with 279 hours (9.0 a day), the dullest December with 83 (2.7 a day).
• Number 11 of 69 large cities in Canada.
• Nearest weather station: Ottawa CDA, 5 km away – 1981–2002 average, Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Sunshine hours month by month

• January: 99 h · 3.2 h a day · 35 %
• February: 131 h · 4.7 h a day · 45 %
• March: 167 h · 5.4 h a day · 45 %
• April: 190 h · 6.3 h a day · 47 %
• May: 230 h · 7.4 h a day · 50 %
• June: 254 h · 8.5 h a day · 54 %
• July: 279 h · 9.0 h a day · 59 %
• August: 249 h · 8.0 h a day · 57 %
• September: 178 h · 5.9 h a day · 47 %
• October: 139 h · 4.5 h a day · 41 %
• November: 84 h · 2.8 h a day · 29 %
• December: 83 h · 2.7 h a day · 30 %

Questions about sunshine hours

• How many hours of sunshine does Ottawa get a year? On average over 1981–2002 the sun shines in Ottawa for 2,083 hours a year – 5.7 hours a day and 47% of the time the sun is above the horizon.
• What is the sunniest month in Ottawa? July, with 279 hours of sunshine, 9.0 a day on average. The least sun comes in December: 83 hours, 2.7 a day.
• Is Ottawa a sunny city? Among the 69 large cities in Canada with measurements, Ottawa ranks number 11.
• 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. Ottawa uses the station Ottawa CDA, measured 1981–2002.
• 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, 1981–2002 average. Possible hours: time between sunrise and sunset.