Average Monthly Sunshine in Washington DC

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

Monthly hours of sunshine

Seasonal sunshine in Washington DC varies. It peaks at 282 hours in June and drops to 130 hours in December. 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.

Washington DC’s total hours of sunshine compared to other major cities

Washington DC enjoys an average of 2520 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.

In Seoul, South Korea, there are approximately 2133 hours of sunshine per year, mostly during spring and autumn.

Adelaide, Australia, enjoys 2770 hours of sunshine annually, with long, sunny summers.

Other climate information

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

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.