Buffalo vs Rochester: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 88 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Buffalo and Rochester are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,831 vs 1,838 hours a year. Rochester has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 of 12 months; the other 8 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Buffalo | Rochester | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,831 | 1,838 |
| Sunniest month | August (75/100) | May (74/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 0/100 | 2/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 74/100 | 72/100 |
| Rain / year | 947 mm | 947 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 7 (high) | 7 (high) |
Buffalo vs Rochester month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | Rochester | Buffalo | Rochester | Buffalo | Rochester | |
| January | 0 | 0 | -1° | -1° | 64 | 58 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 0° | 0° | 57 | 56 |
| March | 0 | 0 | 5° | 5° | 63 | 62 |
| April | 19 | 31 | 11° | 13° | 81 | 78 |
| May | 61 | 74 | 18° | 20° | 85 | 85 |
| June | 73 | 72 | 24° | 25° | 87 | 93 |
| July | 73 | 71 | 27° | 28° | 91 | 98 |
| August | 75 | 74 | 27° | 28° | 79 | 86 |
| September | 73 | 74 | 23° | 24° | 87 | 86 |
| October | 42 | 47 | 15° | 16° | 98 | 100 |
| November | 0 | 6 | 8° | 9° | 75 | 69 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 2° | 2° | 80 | 76 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Rochester · May Rochester · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct Rochester · Nov Rochester · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Buffalo averages 0/100, Rochester 2/100. Daytime highs are similar (2°C vs 3°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Rochester (average score 35/100 vs 27). Rochester is the warmer, around 13°C daytime highs vs 11°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Buffalo averages 74/100, Rochester 72/100. Daytime highs are similar (26°C vs 27°C).
- September–October: Rochester (average score 61/100 vs 58). Daytime highs are similar (19°C vs 20°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Buffalo weather by month · Rochester weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Buffalo vs Toronto · Buffalo vs Waterloo · Rochester vs Toronto · Rochester vs Syracuse · Rochester vs Waterloo · all head-to-heads