Palo Alto (CA) Sunshine Hours by Month
Sunshine is key to understanding how a place experiences its seasons. This page shows the total number of hours of direct sunlight per month and the average hours per day in Palo Alto, California, United States of America. The figures are based on a 30-year period (1990–2020) to provide a reliable average.
Monthly hours of sunshine
Those who love seasonal contrasts will appreciate Palo Alto. Expect long, bright days with 324 hours in May and darker periods with just 160 hours in December. The total annual amount of sun is 3058 hours.
Daily hours of sunshine
In Palo Alto, summer days are longer and more sunny, with daily sunshine hours peaking at 10.8 hours in May. As the darker season arrives, the brightness of the sun becomes less. December sees a soft sun for only 5.3 hours per day.
Average percent of sunshine
On average the sun shines 78% of the time during the day in April, the highest percentage of any month. December has the lowest percentage at 54%.
Palo Alto vs Major Cities: Sunshine Compared
Palo Alto enjoys an average of 3058 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:
Seville, Spain, enjoys an impressive 2920 hours of sunshine per year, making it an ideal destination even in winter.
In contrast, London, UK, receives only about 1659 hours of sunshine per year, known for its frequently overcast and rainy skies.
In Chicago, USA, the annual sunshine averages 2520 hours, contributing to its humid continental climate.
Perth, Australia, enjoys 3180 hours of sunshine annually, the highest among major Australian cities.
Related Climate Data for Palo Alto
December, Palo Alto’s wettest month, receives 2.7 mm (0.1 in) of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 15°C (59°F). During the driest month July you can expect a temperature of 26°C (79°F).
For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Palo Alto Precipitation page.
