Vancouver vs Nanaimo: which is sunnier?
🇨🇦 Canada vs 🇨🇦 Canada · 52 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Vancouver and Nanaimo are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,739 vs 1,738 hours a year. Nanaimo has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months; the other 7 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
| Vancouver | Nanaimo | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,739 | 1,738 |
| Sunniest month | July (84/100) | July (84/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 1/100 | 1/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 80/100 | 83/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,285 mm | 876 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 6 (high) | 6 (high) |
Vancouver vs Nanaimo month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | Nanaimo | Vancouver | Nanaimo | Vancouver | Nanaimo | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 6° | 7° | 194 | 123 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 7° | 7° | 103 | 68 |
| March | 5 | 6 | 9° | 9° | 142 | 90 |
| April | 24 | 32 | 12° | 13° | 87 | 60 |
| May | 52 | 60 | 16° | 17° | 60 | 45 |
| June | 74 | 82 | 19° | 20° | 46 | 38 |
| July | 84 | 84 | 22° | 24° | 26 | 23 |
| August | 83 | 83 | 22° | 24° | 33 | 29 |
| September | 63 | 79 | 18° | 20° | 71 | 52 |
| October | 26 | 35 | 13° | 14° | 140 | 98 |
| November | 5 | 5 | 9° | 9° | 206 | 132 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 6° | 6° | 177 | 118 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Nanaimo · May Nanaimo · Jun Nanaimo · Jul even · Aug even · Sep Nanaimo · Oct Nanaimo · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Vancouver averages 1/100, Nanaimo 1/100. Daytime highs are similar (7°C vs 7°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Nanaimo (average score 33/100 vs 27). Daytime highs are similar (12°C vs 13°C).
- June–August: Nanaimo (average score 83/100 vs 80). Nanaimo is the warmer, around 23°C daytime highs vs 21°C.
- September–October: Nanaimo (average score 57/100 vs 45). Daytime highs are similar (16°C vs 17°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Vancouver weather by month · Nanaimo weather by month · Best time to visit Canada.
More comparisons: Vancouver vs Victoria · Vancouver vs Abbotsford · Vancouver vs Kelowna · Nanaimo vs Victoria · Nanaimo vs Bellingham · all head-to-heads