Sulaymaniyah vs Urmia: which is sunnier?
🇮🇶 Iraq vs 🇮🇷 Iran · 235 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Sulaymaniyah and Urmia are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 3,158 vs 3,227 hours a year. Sulaymaniyah has the higher Sunshine Score in 6 of 12 months, Urmia in 4 (2 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Sulaymaniyah | Urmia | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,158 | 3,227 |
| Sunniest month | May (94/100) | September (98/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 37/100 | 8/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 16/100 | 84/100 |
| Rain / year | 340 mm | 301 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Sulaymaniyah vs Urmia month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulaymaniyah | Urmia | Sulaymaniyah | Urmia | Sulaymaniyah | Urmia | |
| January | 15 | 0 | 10° | 4° | 44 | 29 |
| February | 30 | 0 | 12° | 7° | 50 | 27 |
| March | 73 | 30 | 18° | 12° | 55 | 45 |
| April | 90 | 67 | 23° | 17° | 45 | 52 |
| May | 94 | 92 | 31° | 24° | 20 | 33 |
| June | 39 | 97 | 38° | 31° | 3 | 9 |
| July | 0 | 78 | 42° | 34° | 2 | 4 |
| August | 10 | 78 | 41° | 34° | 1 | 4 |
| September | 59 | 98 | 36° | 29° | 1 | 3 |
| October | 94 | 93 | 28° | 21° | 23 | 28 |
| November | 74 | 31 | 18° | 12° | 49 | 36 |
| December | 30 | 0 | 12° | 6° | 47 | 31 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Sulaymaniyah · Feb Sulaymaniyah · Mar Sulaymaniyah · Apr Sulaymaniyah · May even · Jun Urmia · Jul Urmia · Aug Urmia · Sep Urmia · Oct even · Nov Sulaymaniyah · Dec Sulaymaniyah.
When to pick which
- November–February: Sulaymaniyah (average score 37/100 vs 8). Sulaymaniyah is the warmer, around 13°C daytime highs vs 7°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Sulaymaniyah (average score 86/100 vs 63). Sulaymaniyah is the warmer, around 24°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
- June–August: Urmia (average score 84/100 vs 16). Sulaymaniyah is the warmer, around 40°C daytime highs vs 33°C.
- September–October: Urmia (average score 96/100 vs 77). Sulaymaniyah is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 25°C.
Full month-by-month guides: Sulaymaniyah weather by month · Urmia weather by month · Best time to visit Iraq · Best time to visit Iran.
More comparisons: Sulaymaniyah vs Baghdad · Sulaymaniyah vs Erbil · Sulaymaniyah vs Kermanshah · Urmia vs Erbil · Urmia vs Tabriz · Urmia vs Van · all head-to-heads