Sunshine hours in Raleigh: 2,608 hours a year, month by month

Raleigh gets 2,608 hours of sunshine a year on average (7.1 a day). Sunniest month: June with 268 hours. Every month, measured 1961–1990.

• Raleigh gets 2,608 hours of sunshine a year on average, 7.1 a day – 59% of the astronomically possible. The sunniest month is June with 268 hours (8.9 a day), the dullest December with 158 (5.1 a day).
• Number 217 of 311 large cities in the United States.
• Nearest weather station: Raleigh/Raleigh-Durham, NC, 16 km away – 1961–1990 average, NOAA.

Sunshine hours month by month

• January: 164 h · 5.3 h a day · 53 %
• February: 173 h · 6.2 h a day · 57 %
• March: 229 h · 7.4 h a day · 62 %
• April: 251 h · 8.4 h a day · 64 %
• May: 258 h · 8.3 h a day · 59 %
• June: 268 h · 8.9 h a day · 61 %
• July: 260 h · 8.4 h a day · 59 %
• August: 240 h · 7.7 h a day · 57 %
• September: 218 h · 7.3 h a day · 59 %
• October: 215 h · 6.9 h a day · 61 %
• November: 174 h · 5.8 h a day · 56 %
• December: 158 h · 5.1 h a day · 52 %

Questions about sunshine hours

• How many hours of sunshine does Raleigh get a year? On average over 1961–1990 the sun shines in Raleigh for 2,608 hours a year – 7.1 hours a day and 59% of the time the sun is above the horizon.
• What is the sunniest month in Raleigh? June, with 268 hours of sunshine, 8.9 a day on average. The least sun comes in December: 158 hours, 5.1 a day.
• Is Raleigh a sunny city? Among the 311 large cities in the United States with measurements, Raleigh ranks number 217.
• 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. Raleigh uses the station Raleigh/Raleigh-Durham, NC, 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.