Denver vs Rapid City: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 484 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Denver is the sunnier overall: about 3,169 hours of sunshine a year to Rapid City's 2,793. Denver has the higher Sunshine Score in 7 of 12 months; the other 5 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
| Denver | Rapid City | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,169 | 2,793 |
| Sunniest month | September (92/100) | September (88/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 6/100 | 2/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 86/100 | 82/100 |
| Rain / year | 415 mm | 451 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 8 (very high) |
Denver vs Rapid City month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | Rapid City | Denver | Rapid City | Denver | Rapid City | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 5° | 4° | 14 | 9 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 6° | 4° | 17 | 14 |
| March | 38 | 23 | 13° | 11° | 30 | 24 |
| April | 67 | 57 | 17° | 16° | 48 | 52 |
| May | 86 | 80 | 22° | 21° | 64 | 87 |
| June | 89 | 83 | 30° | 29° | 47 | 68 |
| July | 79 | 77 | 33° | 33° | 53 | 55 |
| August | 89 | 87 | 31° | 31° | 46 | 48 |
| September | 92 | 88 | 26° | 26° | 34 | 38 |
| October | 77 | 60 | 18° | 16° | 29 | 33 |
| November | 24 | 8 | 11° | 9° | 17 | 12 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 4° | 3° | 16 | 11 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Denver · Apr Denver · May Denver · Jun Denver · Jul even · Aug even · Sep Denver · Oct Denver · Nov Denver · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: Denver (average score 6/100 vs 2). Denver is the warmer, around 7°C daytime highs vs 5°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Denver (average score 64/100 vs 53). Daytime highs are similar (17°C vs 16°C).
- June–August: Denver (average score 86/100 vs 82). Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 31°C).
- September–October: Denver (average score 85/100 vs 74). Daytime highs are similar (22°C vs 21°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Denver weather by month · Rapid City weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Denver vs Colorado Springs · Denver vs Aspen · Denver vs Eagle · Rapid City vs Billings · Rapid City vs Bismarck · all head-to-heads