Charlotte vs Columbia: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 143 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Charlotte and Columbia are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,511 vs 2,571 hours a year. Columbia has the higher Sunshine Score in 6 of 12 months, Charlotte in 2 (4 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Charlotte | Columbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,511 | 2,571 |
| Sunniest month | October (79/100) | April (80/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 31/100 | 43/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 71/100 | 65/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,144 mm | 1,152 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 8 (very high) | 8 (very high) |
Charlotte vs Columbia month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Columbia | Charlotte | Columbia | Charlotte | Columbia | |
| January | 13 | 27 | 10° | 12° | 82 | 77 |
| February | 26 | 39 | 12° | 14° | 82 | 90 |
| March | 57 | 64 | 17° | 18° | 97 | 94 |
| April | 77 | 80 | 22° | 24° | 91 | 78 |
| May | 75 | 77 | 27° | 28° | 102 | 94 |
| June | 74 | 72 | 31° | 32° | 106 | 119 |
| July | 66 | 58 | 33° | 34° | 109 | 119 |
| August | 74 | 65 | 32° | 33° | 107 | 117 |
| September | 76 | 76 | 29° | 30° | 94 | 97 |
| October | 79 | 79 | 23° | 25° | 78 | 81 |
| November | 58 | 67 | 17° | 18° | 87 | 77 |
| December | 25 | 37 | 12° | 14° | 109 | 109 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Columbia · Feb Columbia · Mar Columbia · Apr Columbia · May even · Jun even · Jul Charlotte · Aug Charlotte · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Columbia · Dec Columbia.
When to pick which
- November–February: Columbia (average score 43/100 vs 31). Columbia is the warmer, around 15°C daytime highs vs 13°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Columbia (average score 74/100 vs 70). Daytime highs are similar (22°C vs 23°C).
- June–August: Charlotte (average score 71/100 vs 65). Daytime highs are similar (32°C vs 33°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Charlotte averages 78/100, Columbia 78/100. Columbia is the warmer, around 28°C daytime highs vs 26°C.
Full month-by-month guides: Charlotte weather by month · Columbia weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Charlotte vs Greensboro · Charlotte vs Concord · Charlotte vs Greenville/Greer/Spartanburg · Columbia vs Charleston · Columbia vs Greenville/Greer/Spartanburg · Columbia vs Augusta · all head-to-heads