Weather can define a region and its identity. For example, a coastal city like Astoria, Oregon, spends two-thirds of the year under cloud cover, while a desert city like Phoenix, Arizona, typically experiences clear skies year-round. can be seen.
Weather and climate are important considerations when deciding where to live. Some people may like warm and sunny weather, while others may like rain. When choosing a city to live in, it’s important to know what kind of weather you can thrive in. So, if you’re planning to move somewhere new, read this article to find out the cloudiest cities in the US and see if they’re right for you.
How to define cloudy weather
Before we talk about the cloudiest cities, let’s define what cloudy weather actually means. Cloudiness is divided into four categories: mostly clear (sunny during the day), cloudy or sunny, mostly cloudy, and cloudy or cloudy.
Mostly clear: 1/8 of the sky is covered by clouds Lightly cloudy: 3/8 to 5/8 of the sky is covered by clouds Mostly cloudy: 6/8 to 7/8 of the sky is covered by clouds Cloudy: 7/More than one-eighth of the sky is covered by clouds.
This list of cities focuses on the last category: cloudy. See a ranking of the cloudiest cities with a population of over 100,000 based on the number of cloudy days per year.
What is the cloudiest city in the US?
1. Anchorage, Alaska
239 cloudy days per year
Anchorage, the northernmost major city in the United States, is also the cloudiest city in the country. AK spends more than 65% of the year covered by dense clouds, mainly due to its large atmospheric rivers and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Surprisingly, the city sees denser clouds during the summer months.
Anchorage is known for its abundance of natural and dramatic scenery, many of which are just a short drive away. If you’re planning a trip to Anchorage, be sure to take advantage of the long summer sunshine and spectacular Northern Lights viewing. However, please be careful. It’s also the second coldest large city in the United States, and climate change means winters may become warmer and snowier.
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2. Seattle, Washington
226 cloudy days per year
A poster city for the Pacific Northwest, Seattle, Washington is a fast-growing, outdoor-friendly city located on the Puget Sound between the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. It’s a source of pride for the locals, but it’s also a very dark place.
The Seattle area has fairly consistent rainfall and cloud cover for much of the year, thanks to weather from the Pacific Ocean. Set against the backdrop of the iconic Mount Rainier (Tahoma), this city is known for its recreational activities and technology-centered culture. Popular attractions include Pike Place Market, Amazon Sphere, Space Needle, and Seattle Great Wheel.
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3. Portland, Oregon
222 cloudy days per year
Portland, Oregon is known for being a quirky city that spends much of its time under a layer of clouds. Many local residents prefer this method. Like Seattle, Portland’s climate is heavily influenced by the Pacific Ocean, but is slightly warmer and drier. There are four distinct seasons, with sunny summers and cool winters.
Portland is home to numerous niche restaurants, boutique shops, and local breweries, all easily accessible by public transportation. Many local residents prefer to walk or bike on passable roads. Outdoor enthusiasts love Forest Park, the nation’s largest urban forest. The city is also close to the popular tourist destinations of the Columbia Gorge and the beautiful Oregon coastline.
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4. Eugene, Oregon
209 cloudy days per year
Eugene, Oregon, the birthplace of Nike, is an outdoor paradise. It’s only two hours south of Portland, so the climate is very similar. Known as Tracktown USA, Eugene hosts Olympic trials and big football games at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.
Eugene is a great choice if you’re looking to move to a mid-sized city with a small college town feel. It’s also a great vacation spot for those looking for craft breweries and wineries in the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, both the coast and the mountains are easily accessible. Thanks to these amenities, the city has experienced steady population growth over the past 30 years.
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5. Buffalo, New York
208 cloudy days per year
Buffalo, New York, known for its snowy winters and vibrant sports scene, is the fifth cloudiest city in the United States. Close to Niagara Falls and just a short distance from the Big Apple, it’s a great place to get around. The city is also known for its social activities and progressive arts scene.
Because Buffalo is located in the lee of the Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie, it is often covered in clouds. The cold air that blows over the calm lakes absorbs moisture and forms clouds, which often bring rain and snow. This phenomenon is known as the lake effect. Lake influence is especially common from late fall to early spring, when very heavy snowfall can occur.
Interestingly, when looking at the number of days a city is at least partially cloudy (three-eighths covered by cloud), Buffalo tops the list with 310 days, narrowly ahead of Anchorage and Seattle. Masu. This corresponds to 85% of the entire year. Other Rust Belt cities are cloudy as well.
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6. Salem, Oregon
208 cloudy days per year
Salem, Oregon is a small university town located in the heart of the idyllic Willamette Valley and also serves as the state capitol. The sea to the west and the mountains to the east have fairly cool and cloudy weather throughout the year, but summers are generally warm and sunny.
The area is home to dozens of wineries and vineyards, making it popular with wine lovers looking for local tastings. The Houses of Parliament is an attraction in itself, featuring art by local artists. Salem is also known for the Oregon State Fair and numerous festivals held throughout the year.
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7. Grand Rapids, Michigan
205 cloudy days per year
Grand Rapids, Michigan is a vibrant and beautiful city with renowned food and craft beverage attractions. Known as Beer City, this town is located near Lake Michigan and is an easy day trip from Detroit. The Beer City Ale Trail is the path most people take to experience a great variety of craft breweries.
Grand Rapids, like other cities near the Great Lakes, experiences significant snowfall during the winter months and is fairly drizzly from fall through spring. Outside of summer, cloudy and gloomy weather is common.
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8. Syracuse, New York
205 cloudy days per year
Located between Lake Ontario, Onondaga Lake, and Oneida Lake, Syracuse, New York is a metropolis with a unique small-town feel. Like nearby Buffalo, this city is covered in clouds due to its proximity to the Great Lakes, but it’s still an outdoor paradise. The Erie Canal, Chittenango Falls, and Labrador Hollow highlight the beauty of the Finger Lakes region.
In the summer, the Great New York State Fair is a popular annual attraction, and in the winter, it’s filled with abundant snow (over 120 inches!) and great music.
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9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
203 cloudy days per year
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a climate similar to other cities near the Great Lakes. Most cloudy weather in this region occurs from fall to spring, depending on wind direction. Pittsburgh is located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, which join to form the Ohio River.
Pittsburgh, known as the Steel City, has a lot to offer. Outdoor recreation, museums, iconic cuisine, and an industrial past make it a rich place to call home. The Strip is especially popular with shoppers and those looking to connect with locals.
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10. Cleveland, Ohio
202 cloudy days per year
Rounding out the list of cloudiest cities in the United States is Cleveland, Ohio. Like other rusty industrial cities, the weather patterns in Lake Erie and the surrounding area result in mostly cloudy days during the winter months. Summers are generally warm and humid.
If you live in Cleveland or are considering moving, there are several attractions that may catch your attention. These include numerous sports teams, large parks, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The city is also known for its Lake Erie waterfront and historic West Side Market, perfect for enjoying the brief summer weather with friends and family.
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Where is the cloudiest place in the country?
The cloudiest place in the United States is Cold Bay, Alaska. With 304 cloudy days per year, the small town in the Aleutian Islands is almost completely covered in clouds more than 75% of the time. We recently saw the cloudiest start to summer in over 30 years.
Cold Bay was home to an air force base during World War II, much of which still stands. The area is full of huge parks and wildlife sanctuaries perfect for recreation and adventure.
But the Aleutian Islands are seeing the most dramatic effects of climate change, particularly biodiversity loss. Thanks to the semi-permanent Aleutian Low, the Aleutian Islands already has a very windy, violent and highly variable climate that will become even more extreme and unpredictable in the coming decades. It is expected that this will become possible.
methodology
This list includes annual cloud cover data for major cities with 100,000 or more residents. Comparative climate data comes from a 2020 review by the National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI) and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
