Is Erbil sunnier than Van?

They are nearly tied: Erbil gets about 3,144 hours of sunshine a year and Van about 3,151.

Which is warmer, Erbil or Van?

Erbil is warmer across the year: average daytime highs of 28°C (82°F) versus 15°C.

Which is better in winter (November–February), Erbil or Van?

Erbil scores better across November–February: 53/100 average versus 2, with daytime highs around 15°C.

Erbil vs Van: which is sunnier?

🇮🇶 Iraq vs 🇹🇷 Türkiye · 254 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Erbil and Van are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 3,144 vs 3,151 hours a year. Erbil has the higher Sunshine Score in 8 of 12 months, Van in 4.

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	Erbil	Van
Sunshine hours / year	3,144	3,151
Sunniest month	October (94/100)	August (97/100)
Nov–Feb average score	53/100	2/100
Jun–Aug average score	6/100	96/100
Rain / year	283 mm	447 mm
Peak midday UV	10 (very high)	10 (very high)

Erbil vs Van month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm
Month	Erbil	Van	Erbil	Van	Erbil	Van
January	30	0	12°	1°	42	46
February	45	0	14°	3°	37	43
March	89	0	20°	8°	50	60
April	90	36	26°	13°	42	67
May	85	82	33°	19°	16	47
June	19	94	40°	26°	2	18
July	0	96	43°	30°	1	7
August	0	97	42°	31°	1	4
September	49	96	37°	25°	2	11
October	94	67	30°	17°	18	46
November	92	7	20°	9°	31	46
December	45	0	14°	3°	41	52

The sunnier month by month: Jan Erbil · Feb Erbil · Mar Erbil · Apr Erbil · May Erbil · Jun Van · Jul Van · Aug Van · Sep Van · Oct Erbil · Nov Erbil · Dec Erbil.

When to pick which

November–February: Erbil (average score 53/100 vs 2). Erbil is the warmer, around 15°C daytime highs vs 4°C. See the winter sun ranking.
March–May: Erbil (average score 88/100 vs 39). Erbil is the warmer, around 26°C daytime highs vs 13°C.
June–August: Van (average score 96/100 vs 6). Erbil is the warmer, around 42°C daytime highs vs 29°C.
September–October: Van (average score 82/100 vs 72). Erbil is the warmer, around 34°C daytime highs vs 21°C.

Full month-by-month guides: Erbil weather by month · Van weather by month · Best time to visit Iraq · Best time to visit Türkiye.

More comparisons: Erbil vs Sulaymaniyah · Erbil vs Kermanshah · Erbil vs Urmia · Van vs Tabriz · Van vs Urmia · Van vs Nakhchivan · all head-to-heads