Melbourne vs Adelaide: which is sunnier?
🇦🇺 Australia vs 🇦🇺 Australia · 641 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Adelaide is the sunnier overall: about 3,118 hours of sunshine a year to Melbourne's 2,583. Adelaide has the higher Sunshine Score in 12 of 12 months — a clean sweep.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Melbourne | Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,583 | 3,118 |
| Sunniest month | January (86/100) | January (95/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 84/100 | 94/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 32/100 | 53/100 |
| Rain / year | 664 mm | 431 mm |
| Warmest sea | 22°C / 72°F | 23°C / 73°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 12 (extreme) |
Melbourne vs Adelaide month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | Adelaide | Melbourne | Adelaide | Melbourne | Adelaide | Melbourne | Adelaide | |
| January | 86 | 95 | 29° | 31° | 44 | 15 | 22° | 23° |
| February | 85 | 94 | 28° | 30° | 48 | 17 | 22° | 23° |
| March | 86 | 93 | 25° | 27° | 45 | 25 | 21° | 23° |
| April | 84 | 91 | 21° | 23° | 54 | 34 | 18° | 19° |
| May | 57 | 81 | 16° | 19° | 51 | 53 | 15° | 16° |
| June | 35 | 50 | 13° | 15° | 61 | 60 | 12° | 14° |
| July | 28 | 50 | 12° | 15° | 60 | 60 | 11° | 13° |
| August | 34 | 59 | 13° | 16° | 64 | 51 | 12° | 14° |
| September | 56 | 82 | 16° | 19° | 56 | 47 | 13° | 15° |
| October | 84 | 93 | 20° | 22° | 55 | 24 | 16° | 18° |
| November | 82 | 94 | 24° | 26° | 68 | 22 | 20° | 21° |
| December | 83 | 93 | 27° | 28° | 58 | 23 | 22° | 23° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Adelaide · Feb Adelaide · Mar Adelaide · Apr Adelaide · May Adelaide · Jun Adelaide · Jul Adelaide · Aug Adelaide · Sep Adelaide · Oct Adelaide · Nov Adelaide · Dec Adelaide.
When to pick which
- November–February: Adelaide (average score 94/100 vs 84). Adelaide is the warmer, around 29°C daytime highs vs 27°C.
- March–May: Adelaide (average score 88/100 vs 76). Adelaide is the warmer, around 23°C daytime highs vs 21°C.
- June–August: Adelaide (average score 53/100 vs 32). Adelaide is the warmer, around 15°C daytime highs vs 13°C.
- September–October: Adelaide (average score 88/100 vs 70). Adelaide is the warmer, around 21°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
Sea temperature
Adelaide's sea gets warmer: 23°C / 73°F at its peak vs 22°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Melbourne about 4 months a year, Adelaide about 5 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Melbourne weather by month · Adelaide weather by month · Best time to visit Australia.
More comparisons: Melbourne vs Canberra · Melbourne vs Hobart (Cambridge) · Melbourne vs Launceston (Western Junction) · Adelaide vs Canberra · Adelaide vs Launceston (Western Junction) · Adelaide vs Alice Springs · all head-to-heads