Sunshine hours in Portland: 2,341 hours a year, month by month

Portland gets 2,341 hours of sunshine a year on average (6.4 a day). Sunniest month: July with 332 hours. Every month, measured 1961–1990.

• Portland gets 2,341 hours of sunshine a year on average, 6.4 a day – 52% of the astronomically possible. The sunniest month is July with 332 hours (10.7 a day), the dullest December with 64 (2.1 a day).
• Number 291 of 311 large cities in the United States.
• Nearest weather station: Portland OR, 7 km away – 1961–1990 average, NOAA.

Sunshine hours month by month

• January: 86 h · 2.8 h a day · 30 %
• February: 116 h · 4.1 h a day · 40 %
• March: 191 h · 6.2 h a day · 52 %
• April: 221 h · 7.4 h a day · 54 %
• May: 276 h · 8.9 h a day · 60 %
• June: 290 h · 9.7 h a day · 62 %
• July: 332 h · 10.7 h a day · 70 %
• August: 298 h · 9.6 h a day · 68 %
• September: 236 h · 7.9 h a day · 63 %
• October: 152 h · 4.9 h a day · 45 %
• November: 79 h · 2.6 h a day · 28 %
• December: 64 h · 2.1 h a day · 24 %

Questions about sunshine hours

• How many hours of sunshine does Portland get a year? On average over 1961–1990 the sun shines in Portland for 2,341 hours a year – 6.4 hours a day and 52% of the time the sun is above the horizon.
• What is the sunniest month in Portland? July, with 332 hours of sunshine, 10.7 a day on average. The least sun comes in December: 64 hours, 2.1 a day.
• Is Portland a sunny city? Among the 311 large cities in the United States with measurements, Portland ranks number 291.
• 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. Portland uses the station Portland OR, 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.