Glasgow vs Edinburgh: which is sunnier?
🇬🇧 United Kingdom vs 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 90 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Glasgow and Edinburgh are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,304 vs 1,292 hours a year. Edinburgh has the higher Sunshine Score in 3 of 12 months; the other 9 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Glasgow | Edinburgh | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,304 | 1,292 |
| Sunniest month | July (55/100) | July (58/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 1/100 | 2/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 53/100 | 56/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,268 mm | 889 mm |
| Warmest sea | 15°C / 59°F | 16°C / 61°F |
| Peak midday UV | 4 (moderate) | 4 (moderate) |
Glasgow vs Edinburgh month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Edinburgh | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 6° | 6° | 127 | 74 | 9° | 6° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 6° | 6° | 96 | 60 | 9° | 6° |
| March | 0 | 0 | 8° | 8° | 86 | 60 | 9° | 7° |
| April | 18 | 19 | 11° | 11° | 69 | 53 | 10° | 9° |
| May | 36 | 37 | 14° | 14° | 81 | 60 | 13° | 13° |
| June | 51 | 53 | 17° | 17° | 96 | 82 | 13° | 14° |
| July | 55 | 58 | 18° | 18° | 111 | 91 | 15° | 15° |
| August | 53 | 56 | 18° | 18° | 123 | 100 | 15° | 16° |
| September | 45 | 49 | 16° | 16° | 99 | 64 | 15° | 14° |
| October | 21 | 23 | 12° | 12° | 131 | 93 | 13° | 12° |
| November | 5 | 6 | 9° | 9° | 124 | 79 | 12° | 10° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 7° | 6° | 125 | 73 | 10° | 7° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul Edinburgh · Aug Edinburgh · Sep Edinburgh · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Glasgow averages 1/100, Edinburgh 2/100. Daytime highs are similar (7°C vs 7°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Glasgow averages 18/100, Edinburgh 19/100. Daytime highs are similar (11°C vs 11°C).
- June–August: Edinburgh (average score 56/100 vs 53). Daytime highs are similar (18°C vs 18°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 15°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Glasgow never, Edinburgh never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Glasgow weather by month · Edinburgh weather by month · Best time to visit United Kingdom.
More comparisons: Glasgow vs Glasgow · Glasgow vs Newcastle upon Tyne · Glasgow vs Belfast · Edinburgh vs Glasgow · Edinburgh vs Newcastle upon Tyne · Edinburgh vs Aberdeen · all head-to-heads