Winter weather has already rolled into many parts in the U.S. and will soon appear in others. If the cold, cloudy skies of winter get you down, perhaps it’s time to take a second peek at sunnier locales.
Recently, Redfin looked at all cities across the U.S. with populations of more than 100,000 residents and uncovered the places that get the most sunshine annually.
In determining the rankings, Redfin identified places that have the most days where less than one-eighth of the sky is covered with clouds.
Here are the sunniest cities in America.
10. Stockton, California
Number of sunny days this city gets: 184 per year
Estimated population of this city: 320,000 as of 2023
Despite being a sunny place, Stockton gets 17 inches of rain annually, which is a higher total than falls in many cities on this list. Most of that precipitation comes in a few bursts during the winter.
9. Los Angeles
Number of sunny days this city gets: 186 per year
Estimated population of this city: 3.8 million as of 2023
The weather in Los Angeles is famously fabulous, with many warm and sunny days. However, Santa Ana winds that blow out of the desert can spark devastating wildfires.
8. Sacramento, California
Number of sunny days this city gets: 188 per year
Estimated population of this city: 526,000 as of 2023
Sacramento’s warm and sunny climate provides the perfect weather for outdoor activities. You can visit the California State Fair during July or tour one of the area’s wineries throughout the year.
As a bonus, Sacramento is one of the more affordable areas to live in California, which is part of why it made the list in “7 of the Best Places for Retiring in California.”
7. Bakersfield, California
Number of sunny days this city gets: 191 per year
Estimated population of this city: 413,000 as of 2023
Just an hour away from Los Angeles, Bakersfield’s weather is usually sunny and pleasant, but it can get very hot in the Central Valley region too. The highest temperature ever recorded in the city was 118 degrees Fahrenheit on July 28, 1908.
6. El Paso, Texas
Number of sunny days this city gets: 193 per year
Estimated population of this city: 679,000 as of 2023
The clear skies of El Paso have earned it the nickname of “Sun City.” However, high temperatures regularly drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter.
Those mild winters are one reason why the city on the border with Mexico made our list in “12 of the Best Places to Retire in Texas.”
5. Tucson, Arizona
Number of sunny days this city gets: 193 per year
Estimated population of this city: 547,000 as of 2023
The sunny and warm weather in Tucson makes it a great place to do things outdoors throughout the year. For starters, you can explore Saguaro National Park or the Coronado National Forest.
4. Fresno, California
Number of sunny days this city gets: 194 per year
Estimated population of this city: 546,000 as of 2023
Fresno’s warmest month of the year is July, and the city in the state’s fertile Central Valley region sees a lot of sunshine year-round. However, it gets more precipitation in January than any other month.
3. Las Vegas
Number of sunny days this city gets: 210 per year
Estimated population of this city: 661,000 as of 2023
Las Vegas is usually sunny and warm — with record-breaking summer heat in 2024 — but not always. Temperatures can dip sharply during the city’s brief winter season and may even drop below freezing.
2. Phoenix
Number of sunny days this city gets: 211 per year
Estimated population of this city: 1.7 million as of 2023
Phoenix is a great place if you love sunshine, but you better like the Arizona heat as well. This past summer, Phoenix had a record 113 straight days of temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
1. Yuma, Arizona
Number of sunny days this city gets: 242 per year
Estimated population of this city: 101,000 as of 2023
Yuma is often referred to as the “sunniest city on earth.” The sun shines down here during 91% of daylight hours, and Yuma gets just 3 inches of rain annually.
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