Cardiff vs Bournemouth: which is sunnier?
🇬🇧 United Kingdom vs 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 125 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Bournemouth is the sunnier overall: about 1,899 hours of sunshine a year to Cardiff's 1,565. Bournemouth has the higher Sunshine Score in 8 of 12 months; the other 4 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Cardiff | Bournemouth | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,565 | 1,899 |
| Sunniest month | July (73/100) | September (81/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 4/100 | 5/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 71/100 | 78/100 |
| Rain / year | 966 mm | 837 mm |
| Warmest sea | 18°C / 64°F | 18°C / 64°F |
| Peak midday UV | 5 (moderate) | 6 (high) |
Cardiff vs Bournemouth month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | Bournemouth | Cardiff | Bournemouth | Cardiff | Bournemouth | Cardiff | Bournemouth | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 7° | 8° | 94 | 84 | 8° | 9° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 7° | 8° | 73 | 65 | 9° | 10° |
| March | 6 | 13 | 9° | 10° | 70 | 61 | 9° | 10° |
| April | 32 | 40 | 13° | 14° | 56 | 53 | 11° | 11° |
| May | 50 | 59 | 16° | 17° | 67 | 58 | 14° | 14° |
| June | 68 | 79 | 19° | 20° | 72 | 59 | 16° | 16° |
| July | 73 | 78 | 20° | 23° | 80 | 64 | 17° | 17° |
| August | 72 | 77 | 20° | 22° | 84 | 70 | 18° | 18° |
| September | 63 | 81 | 18° | 20° | 63 | 49 | 17° | 18° |
| October | 35 | 49 | 14° | 16° | 100 | 92 | 15° | 16° |
| November | 17 | 18 | 11° | 11° | 103 | 92 | 13° | 14° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 8° | 8° | 104 | 90 | 10° | 11° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Bournemouth · Apr Bournemouth · May Bournemouth · Jun Bournemouth · Jul Bournemouth · Aug Bournemouth · Sep Bournemouth · Oct Bournemouth · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Cardiff averages 4/100, Bournemouth 5/100. Daytime highs are similar (8°C vs 9°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Bournemouth (average score 37/100 vs 29). Daytime highs are similar (13°C vs 14°C).
- June–August: Bournemouth (average score 78/100 vs 71). Bournemouth is the warmer, around 22°C daytime highs vs 20°C.
- September–October: Bournemouth (average score 65/100 vs 49). Bournemouth is the warmer, around 18°C daytime highs vs 16°C.
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 18°C / 64°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Cardiff never, Bournemouth never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Cardiff weather by month · Bournemouth weather by month · Best time to visit United Kingdom.
More comparisons: Cardiff vs Bristol · Cardiff vs Exeter · Cardiff vs Newquay · Bournemouth vs London · Bournemouth vs Bristol · Bournemouth vs Southampton · all head-to-heads