Cardiff vs Bristol: which is sunnier?
🇬🇧 United Kingdom vs 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 44 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Cardiff and Bristol are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,565 vs 1,565 hours a year. Cardiff has the higher Sunshine Score in 2 of 12 months; the other 10 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 | Bristol | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,565 | 1,565 |
| Sunniest month | July (73/100) | July (75/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 4/100 | 3/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 71/100 | 73/100 |
| Rain / year | 966 mm | 812 mm |
| Warmest sea | 18°C / 64°F | 21°C / 70°F |
| Peak midday UV | 5 (moderate) | 5 (moderate) |
Cardiff vs Bristol month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | Bristol | Cardiff | Bristol | Cardiff | Bristol | Cardiff | Bristol | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 7° | 6° | 94 | 76 | 8° | 6° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 7° | 7° | 73 | 60 | 9° | 7° |
| March | 6 | 6 | 9° | 9° | 70 | 60 | 9° | 9° |
| April | 32 | 26 | 13° | 12° | 56 | 50 | 11° | 11° |
| May | 50 | 51 | 16° | 16° | 67 | 60 | 14° | 15° |
| June | 68 | 70 | 19° | 19° | 72 | 62 | 16° | 18° |
| July | 73 | 75 | 20° | 21° | 80 | 69 | 17° | 20° |
| August | 72 | 74 | 20° | 20° | 84 | 72 | 18° | 21° |
| September | 63 | 65 | 18° | 18° | 63 | 50 | 17° | 17° |
| October | 35 | 36 | 14° | 14° | 100 | 83 | 15° | 13° |
| November | 17 | 12 | 11° | 10° | 103 | 86 | 13° | 11° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 8° | 7° | 104 | 84 | 10° | 8° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Cardiff · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Cardiff · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Cardiff averages 4/100, Bristol 3/100. Daytime highs are similar (8°C vs 8°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Cardiff averages 29/100, Bristol 28/100. Daytime highs are similar (13°C vs 12°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Cardiff averages 71/100, Bristol 73/100. Daytime highs are similar (20°C vs 20°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Cardiff averages 49/100, Bristol 51/100. Daytime highs are similar (16°C vs 16°C).
Sea temperature
Bristol's sea gets warmer: 21°C / 70°F at its peak vs 18°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Cardiff never, Bristol about 1 month a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Cardiff weather by month · Bristol weather by month · Best time to visit United Kingdom.
More comparisons: Cardiff vs Bournemouth · Cardiff vs Exeter · Cardiff vs Newquay · Bristol vs Bournemouth · Bristol vs Southampton · Bristol vs Exeter · all head-to-heads