St. Petersburg vs Helsinki (Vantaa): which is sunnier?
🇷🇺 Russia vs 🇫🇮 Finland · 300 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
St. Petersburg and Helsinki (Vantaa) are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,522 vs 1,584 hours a year. Helsinki (Vantaa) 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
| St. Petersburg | Helsinki (Vantaa) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,522 | 1,584 |
| Sunniest month | July (71/100) | July (75/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 0/100 | 0/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 68/100 | 73/100 |
| Rain / year | 724 mm | 732 mm |
| Warmest sea | 23°C / 73°F | 20°C / 68°F |
| Peak midday UV | 4 (moderate) | 4 (moderate) |
St. Petersburg vs Helsinki (Vantaa) month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Petersburg | Helsinki (Vantaa) | St. Petersburg | Helsinki (Vantaa) | St. Petersburg | Helsinki (Vantaa) | St. Petersburg | Helsinki (Vantaa) | |
| January | 0 | 0 | -5° | -4° | 45 | 56 | 0° | 0° |
| February | 0 | 0 | -5° | -3° | 38 | 45 | 0° | 0° |
| March | 0 | 0 | 0° | 1° | 40 | 43 | 1° | 1° |
| April | 0 | 0 | 7° | 8° | 47 | 44 | 4° | 3° |
| May | 44 | 45 | 15° | 15° | 60 | 53 | 12° | 11° |
| June | 61 | 68 | 18° | 19° | 78 | 75 | 21° | 18° |
| July | 71 | 75 | 22° | 22° | 88 | 71 | 23° | 19° |
| August | 71 | 75 | 20° | 20° | 90 | 70 | 22° | 20° |
| September | 45 | 45 | 15° | 15° | 58 | 61 | 19° | 18° |
| October | 0 | 0 | 7° | 8° | 67 | 77 | 10° | 12° |
| November | 0 | 0 | 1° | 3° | 59 | 70 | 4° | 6° |
| December | 0 | 0 | -3° | -1° | 54 | 67 | 0° | 3° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun Helsinki (Vantaa) · Jul Helsinki (Vantaa) · Aug Helsinki (Vantaa) · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — St. Petersburg averages 0/100, Helsinki (Vantaa) 0/100. Helsinki (Vantaa) is the warmer, around -1°C daytime highs vs -3°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — St. Petersburg averages 15/100, Helsinki (Vantaa) 15/100. Daytime highs are similar (7°C vs 8°C).
- June–August: Helsinki (Vantaa) (average score 73/100 vs 68). Daytime highs are similar (20°C vs 20°C).
- September–October: too close to call — St. Petersburg averages 23/100, Helsinki (Vantaa) 23/100. Daytime highs are similar (11°C vs 12°C).
Sea temperature
St. Petersburg's sea gets warmer: 23°C / 73°F at its peak vs 20°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): St. Petersburg about 3 months a year, Helsinki (Vantaa) never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: St. Petersburg weather by month · Helsinki (Vantaa) weather by month · Best time to visit Russia · Best time to visit Finland.
More comparisons: St. Petersburg vs Tallinn · St. Petersburg vs Cherepovets · St. Petersburg vs Petrozavodsk · Helsinki (Vantaa) vs Riga · Helsinki (Vantaa) vs Tallinn · all head-to-heads