Helsinki (Vantaa) vs Riga: which is sunnier?
🇫🇮 Finland vs 🇱🇻 Latvia · 382 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Riga is the sunnier overall: about 1,691 hours of sunshine a year to Helsinki (Vantaa)'s 1,584. Riga 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.
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At a glance
| Helsinki (Vantaa) | Riga | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,584 | 1,691 |
| Sunniest month | July (75/100) | July (75/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 0/100 | 0/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 73/100 | 73/100 |
| Rain / year | 732 mm | 688 mm |
| Warmest sea | 20°C / 68°F | 21°C / 70°F |
| Peak midday UV | 4 (moderate) | 5 (moderate) |
Helsinki (Vantaa) vs Riga month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helsinki (Vantaa) | Riga | Helsinki (Vantaa) | Riga | Helsinki (Vantaa) | Riga | Helsinki (Vantaa) | Riga | |
| January | 0 | 0 | -4° | -2° | 56 | 52 | 0° | 0° |
| February | 0 | 0 | -3° | -2° | 45 | 43 | 0° | 0° |
| March | 0 | 0 | 1° | 3° | 43 | 41 | 1° | 2° |
| April | 0 | 7 | 8° | 9° | 44 | 43 | 3° | 5° |
| May | 45 | 47 | 15° | 15° | 53 | 44 | 11° | 12° |
| June | 68 | 69 | 19° | 19° | 75 | 69 | 18° | 19° |
| July | 75 | 75 | 22° | 22° | 71 | 72 | 19° | 21° |
| August | 75 | 75 | 20° | 21° | 70 | 73 | 20° | 21° |
| September | 45 | 59 | 15° | 17° | 61 | 55 | 18° | 19° |
| October | 0 | 13 | 8° | 10° | 77 | 71 | 12° | 13° |
| November | 0 | 0 | 3° | 5° | 70 | 68 | 6° | 9° |
| December | 0 | 0 | -1° | 1° | 67 | 57 | 3° | 5° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Riga · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep Riga · Oct Riga · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Helsinki (Vantaa) averages 0/100, Riga 0/100. Riga is the warmer, around 1°C daytime highs vs -1°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Riga (average score 18/100 vs 15). Daytime highs are similar (8°C vs 9°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Helsinki (Vantaa) averages 73/100, Riga 73/100. Daytime highs are similar (20°C vs 21°C).
- September–October: Riga (average score 36/100 vs 23). Riga is the warmer, around 14°C daytime highs vs 12°C.
Sea temperature
Riga's sea gets warmer: 21°C / 70°F at its peak vs 20°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Helsinki (Vantaa) never, Riga about 2 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Helsinki (Vantaa) weather by month · Riga weather by month · Best time to visit Finland.
More comparisons: Helsinki (Vantaa) vs St. Petersburg · Helsinki (Vantaa) vs Tallinn · Riga vs Minsk · Riga vs Vilnius · Riga vs Tallinn · all head-to-heads