Average Monthly Sunshine in Anchorage (AK)

The graphs on this page shows the average number of hours per month and per day that Anchorage receives direct sunlight. The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average.

Monthly hours of sunshine

If you're visiting Anchorage, timing is key. In May, you can enjoy up to 289 hours of sunshine, while the shorter days of December provide just 55 hours. The total annual amount of sun is 2070 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

This means the city can be enjoyed more throughout the sunniest month of May under a blue sky, with approximately 9.6 hours of sunshine daily. In contrast, the city experiences much darker days in December, with only 1.8 hours of sunlight per day.

Anchorage’s total hours of sunshine compared to other major cities

Anchorage enjoys an average of 2070 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

In Barcelona, Spain, there are 2530 hours of sunshine annually and is a city that can be visited year-round.

Manchester, UK, experiences just around 1420 hours of sunshine annually.

Beijing, China, has 2505 hours of sunshine annually, with clear, sunny days in winter.

In Tokyo, Japan, the average annual sunshine is 1930 hours, with sunny periods between rainy seasons.

Other climate information

September, Anchorage’s wettest month, receives 80 mm of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 13°C. During the driest month May you can expect a temperature of 12°C.

For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Anchorage Precipitation page.