The average annual sunshine level in Boston, Massachusetts is 58%. That means that the city of Boston receives 58% of all its possible sunshine on a yearly basis. The rest of the time clouds block the sun's rays from the city.

I went to college in Boston and can say firsthand that the city gets more sunshine in the summer than it does in the winter. The yearly precipitation in the city backs that up.

Boston receives 42.53" of rain yearly. An average of 3.54" inches of rain (or snow converted to rain) per month. But from May through September the city averages just 3.27" of rain. The other seven months of the year, Boston averages 3.74" of rain (or snow converted to rain). That might not seem like a big difference but it translates into more sunny days from May through September.

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How does Boston's 58% Annual Sunshine Level Compare to Other Cities?

An annual sunshine level of 58% is actually pretty good. The capital city of Majuro in the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific, southwest of Hawaii, also has 58% annual sunshine levels. Of course, Majuro also has a much warmer climate, but not sunnier.

Speaking of Hawaii, the city of Lihue on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, also has 58% annual sunshine levels.

Other Cities in the United States with 58% Sunshine Levels

All the cities listed below also have 58% sunshine levels. That does not mean any of these cities have the same climate as Boston, but they all receive the same annual sunshine level. The sun shines in each of these cities the same amount of time each year, based upon availability. Some of these cities might surprise people not familiar with Boston, or even people who do live in the city.

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Montgomery, Alabama

Springfield, Illinois

Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota

New York City, New York

Raleigh, North Carolina

Providence, Rhode Island

Port Arthur, Texas

For more see Tallest Buildings in Boston

11 Beautiful Famous Castles in Massachusetts

Lighthouses, Monuments and Windmills on Cape Cod

Source: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/avgsun.html