Edinburgh vs Aberdeen: which is sunnier?
🇬🇧 United Kingdom vs 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 157 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Edinburgh and Aberdeen are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,292 vs 1,300 hours a year. Edinburgh has the higher Sunshine Score in 6 of 12 months; the other 6 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Edinburgh | Aberdeen | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,292 | 1,300 |
| Sunniest month | July (58/100) | July (57/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 2/100 | 0/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 56/100 | 52/100 |
| Rain / year | 889 mm | 945 mm |
| Warmest sea | 16°C / 61°F | 14°C / 57°F |
| Peak midday UV | 4 (moderate) | 4 (moderate) |
Edinburgh vs Aberdeen month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | Aberdeen | Edinburgh | Aberdeen | Edinburgh | Aberdeen | Edinburgh | Aberdeen | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 6° | 5° | 74 | 77 | 6° | 7° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 6° | 6° | 60 | 63 | 6° | 6° |
| March | 0 | 0 | 8° | 7° | 60 | 64 | 7° | 7° |
| April | 19 | 13 | 11° | 10° | 53 | 57 | 9° | 8° |
| May | 37 | 31 | 14° | 13° | 60 | 63 | 13° | 12° |
| June | 53 | 47 | 17° | 16° | 82 | 87 | 14° | 13° |
| July | 58 | 57 | 18° | 18° | 91 | 95 | 15° | 14° |
| August | 56 | 51 | 18° | 17° | 100 | 101 | 16° | 14° |
| September | 49 | 43 | 16° | 15° | 64 | 62 | 14° | 13° |
| October | 23 | 22 | 12° | 12° | 93 | 109 | 12° | 12° |
| November | 6 | 0 | 9° | 8° | 79 | 92 | 10° | 11° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 6° | 6° | 73 | 75 | 7° | 9° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Edinburgh · May Edinburgh · Jun Edinburgh · Jul even · Aug Edinburgh · Sep Edinburgh · Oct even · Nov Edinburgh · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Edinburgh averages 2/100, Aberdeen 0/100. Daytime highs are similar (7°C vs 6°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Edinburgh (average score 19/100 vs 15). Daytime highs are similar (11°C vs 10°C).
- June–August: Edinburgh (average score 56/100 vs 52). Daytime highs are similar (18°C vs 17°C).
- September–October: Edinburgh (average score 36/100 vs 33). Daytime highs are similar (14°C vs 14°C).
Sea temperature
Edinburgh's sea gets warmer: 16°C / 61°F at its peak vs 14°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Edinburgh never, Aberdeen never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Edinburgh weather by month · Aberdeen weather by month · Best time to visit United Kingdom.
More comparisons: Edinburgh vs Glasgow · Edinburgh vs Glasgow · Edinburgh vs Newcastle upon Tyne · Aberdeen vs Glasgow · Aberdeen vs Inverness · Aberdeen vs Vágar · all head-to-heads