Average Monthly Sunshine in Manchester

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

Monthly hours of sunshine

Seasonal sunshine in Manchester varies. It peaks at 186 hours in May and drops to 45 hours in December. The total annual amount of sun is 1420 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

For those who appreciate different seasons, Manchester serves as an ideal destination. Expect longer, more sun-filled days in May with an average of 6.2 hours of sunshine daily, and embrace the darker days in December, offering only 1.5 hours of daily sunlight.

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

Manchester enjoys an average of 1420 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

Athens, Greece, enjoys 2769 hours of sunshine each year, making it one of the sunniest destinations in the Mediterranean region.

In Chicago, USA, the annual sunshine averages 2520 hours, contributing to its humid continental climate.

Meanwhile, Buenos Aires, Argentina, enjoys a humid subtropical climate with 2520 hours of sunshine annually.

Melbourne, Australia, has 2380 hours of sunshine annually, with its famous “four seasons in a day” weather pattern.

Other climate information

December, Manchester’s wettest month, receives 95 mm of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 8°C. During the driest month April you can expect a temperature of 13°C.

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