Average Monthly Sunshine in Washington

The graphs on this page shows the average number of hours per month and per day that Washington 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 varies. It peaks at 192 hours in May and drops to 53 hours in December. The total annual amount of sun is 1528 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

For those who appreciate different seasons, Washington serves as an ideal destination. Expect longer, more sun-filled days in May with an average of 6.4 hours of sunshine daily, and embrace the darker days in December, offering only 1.8 hours of daily sunlight.

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

Washington enjoys an average of 1528 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

In Lisbon, Portugal, there are approximately 2801 hours of sunshine annually, highlighting its warm and sunny Mediterranean climate.

In contrast, London, UK, receives only about 1659 hours of sunshine per year, known for its frequently overcast and rainy skies.

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

In Brisbane, Australia, the annual sunshine averages 2999 hours, making it one of Australia’s sunniest cities.

Other climate information

August, Washington’s wettest month, receives 70 mm of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 20°C. During the driest month March you can expect a temperature of 11°C.

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