Erbil vs Urmia: which is sunnier?
🇮🇶 Iraq vs 🇮🇷 Iran · 188 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Urmia is the sunnier overall: about 3,227 hours of sunshine a year to Erbil's 3,144. Erbil has the higher Sunshine Score in 6 of 12 months, Urmia in 5 (1 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Erbil | Urmia | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,144 | 3,227 |
| Sunniest month | October (94/100) | September (98/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 53/100 | 8/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 6/100 | 84/100 |
| Rain / year | 283 mm | 301 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Erbil vs Urmia month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erbil | Urmia | Erbil | Urmia | Erbil | Urmia | |
| January | 30 | 0 | 12° | 4° | 42 | 29 |
| February | 45 | 0 | 14° | 7° | 37 | 27 |
| March | 89 | 30 | 20° | 12° | 50 | 45 |
| April | 90 | 67 | 26° | 17° | 42 | 52 |
| May | 85 | 92 | 33° | 24° | 16 | 33 |
| June | 19 | 97 | 40° | 31° | 2 | 9 |
| July | 0 | 78 | 43° | 34° | 1 | 4 |
| August | 0 | 78 | 42° | 34° | 1 | 4 |
| September | 49 | 98 | 37° | 29° | 2 | 3 |
| October | 94 | 93 | 30° | 21° | 18 | 28 |
| November | 92 | 31 | 20° | 12° | 31 | 36 |
| December | 45 | 0 | 14° | 6° | 41 | 31 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Erbil · Feb Erbil · Mar Erbil · Apr Erbil · May Urmia · Jun Urmia · Jul Urmia · Aug Urmia · Sep Urmia · Oct even · Nov Erbil · Dec Erbil.
When to pick which
- November–February: Erbil (average score 53/100 vs 8). Erbil is the warmer, around 15°C daytime highs vs 7°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Erbil (average score 88/100 vs 63). Erbil is the warmer, around 26°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
- June–August: Urmia (average score 84/100 vs 6). Erbil is the warmer, around 42°C daytime highs vs 33°C.
- September–October: Urmia (average score 96/100 vs 72). Erbil is the warmer, around 34°C daytime highs vs 25°C.
Full month-by-month guides: Erbil weather by month · Urmia weather by month · Best time to visit Iraq · Best time to visit Iran.
More comparisons: Erbil vs Sulaymaniyah · Erbil vs Kermanshah · Erbil vs Van · Urmia vs Tabriz · Urmia vs Sulaymaniyah · Urmia vs Van · all head-to-heads