Washington DC Sunshine Hours by Month

The amount of sunshine is fundamental to comprehending a place's climate. This page shows the total number of hours of direct sunlight per month and the average hours per day in Washington DC, United States of America. This average is based on long-term data collected between 1990 and 2020.

Monthly hours of sunshine

If you're visiting Washington DC, timing is key. In June, you can enjoy up to 282 hours of sunshine, while the shorter days of December provide just 130 hours. The total annual amount of sun is 2520 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

This means the city can be enjoyed more throughout the sunniest month of June under a blue sky, with approximately 9.4 hours of sunshine daily. In contrast, the city experiences much darker days in December, with only 4.3 hours of sunlight per day.

Average percent of sunshine

On average the sun shines 64% of the time during the day in June, the highest percentage of any month. December has the lowest percentage at 45%.

Washington DC enjoys an average of 2520 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

The city of Rome, Italy, experiences 2470 hours of sunshine annually, adding to its charm as a year-round tourist destination.

In contrast, Tromsø , Norway, receives only about 1270 hours of sunshine per year, known for the polar night with no sunlight for weeks during winter.

Toronto, Canada, sees around 2071 hours of sunshine each year, with especially long, bright summer days.

Perth, Australia, enjoys 3180 hours of sunshine annually, the highest among major Australian cities.

June, Washington DC’s wettest month, receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 30°C (86°F). During the driest month January you can expect a temperature of 7°C (45°F).

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