Makhachkala vs Aktau: which is sunnier?
🇷🇺 Russia vs 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan · 301 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Aktau is the sunnier overall: about 2,608 hours of sunshine a year to Makhachkala's 2,061. Aktau has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 of 12 months, Makhachkala in 3 (5 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Makhachkala | Aktau | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,061 | 2,608 |
| Sunniest month | July (86/100) | September (93/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 7/100 | 2/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 85/100 | 71/100 |
| Rain / year | 378 mm | 128 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 7 (high) | 8 (very high) |
Makhachkala vs Aktau month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makhachkala | Aktau | Makhachkala | Aktau | Makhachkala | Aktau | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 5° | 2° | 33 | 12 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 6° | 4° | 27 | 7 |
| March | 7 | 23 | 9° | 11° | 23 | 13 |
| April | 43 | 76 | 14° | 18° | 27 | 17 |
| May | 84 | 92 | 21° | 27° | 36 | 11 |
| June | 85 | 84 | 27° | 33° | 32 | 6 |
| July | 86 | 56 | 30° | 36° | 26 | 8 |
| August | 85 | 74 | 30° | 34° | 30 | 7 |
| September | 85 | 93 | 25° | 27° | 33 | 9 |
| October | 76 | 77 | 19° | 18° | 42 | 11 |
| November | 28 | 8 | 12° | 9° | 38 | 16 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 7° | 3° | 31 | 11 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Aktau · Apr Aktau · May Aktau · Jun even · Jul Makhachkala · Aug Makhachkala · Sep Aktau · Oct even · Nov Makhachkala · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: Makhachkala (average score 7/100 vs 2). Makhachkala is the warmer, around 8°C daytime highs vs 5°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Aktau (average score 64/100 vs 45). Aktau is the warmer, around 19°C daytime highs vs 15°C.
- June–August: Makhachkala (average score 85/100 vs 71). Aktau is the warmer, around 34°C daytime highs vs 29°C.
- September–October: Aktau (average score 85/100 vs 81). Daytime highs are similar (22°C vs 23°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Makhachkala weather by month · Aktau weather by month · Best time to visit Russia · Best time to visit Kazakhstan.
More comparisons: Makhachkala vs Baku · Makhachkala vs Tbilisi · Makhachkala vs Vladikavkaz · Aktau vs Baku · Aktau vs Astrakhan · Aktau vs Atyrau · all head-to-heads