Top 10 Cloudiest States in the US 2026: Ranked by Clear Days
The 10 cloudiest states in the US, ranked by fewest full-sunshine days. Washington, Vermont, Alaska, and the Great Lakes belt lead the list.
Quick Reference
- #1 cloudiest state: Washington. Olympia sees 52 full-sun days a year; Seattle gets 71.
- Cloudiest single city: Juneau, Alaska at 44 sunny days per year.
- Cloudiest east of the Mississippi: Vermont, with 58 days of full sunshine statewide.
- Great Lakes belt: Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Connecticut all cluster in the 50s-to-70s range for clear days.
- Ranked by: days of full sunshine per year, from NOAA / NWS climate data.
Olympia, Washington sees the sun come fully through the clouds only 52 days a year, which is how the Evergreen State lands at the top of the cloudiest states list. The ranking is built from long-run NOAA and NWS climate data, counting days of full sunshine rather than partial breaks. Below is the full list, from tenth to first, with the cities that skew each state’s number and why the geography keeps the clouds in place.
How We Rank the Cloudiest States
At the Almanac we love weather topics of all kinds, and we regularly explore the varied climates of cities and states across North America — foggiest, hottest, rainiest, worst weather, best gardening, and more. The states below are listed in order from the most to the fewest days of full sunshine. The data comes from long-run climate averages rather than any single year, and we report the representative city or range that drives each state’s number.
One important caveat. Cloudiness can vary widely within a state and across seasons. Eastern Oregon and eastern Washington are genuinely sunny places that happen to share a border with the cloud-heavy coast. Where that pattern matters, we call it out.
The Top 10 Cloudiest States in the US
10. Connecticut. Great Lakes influence reaches east into New England, and Connecticut catches more than its fair share of cloud cover. Hartford sees roughly 82 fully sunny days per year. Bridgeport fares a little better at 99 sunny days a year. Both numbers sit below the US average.
9. Montana. People call it Big Sky Country, not Clear Sky Country. The Continental Divide runs through the western end of the state, which keeps Montana’s weather diverse and unpredictable. In places like Kalispell or Missoula you can expect as little as 70 to 75 cloudless days a year.
8. Ohio. Ohio catches both arctic air masses out of Canada and tropical air masses pushing up from the south, which makes the state’s climate extremely diverse. The northern half deals with frequent lake-effect snow across winter. Just south of Lake Erie, the sunshine count sits between 63 and 68 days. Central and southern Ohio gets between 72 and 77 clear days a year.
7. Michigan. Many of the cloudiest states share a border with one of the Great Lakes; Michigan is virtually surrounded by them. Cold winds rushing over Lake Superior and Lake Huron through winter form heavy condensation, which in turn brings clouds and relentless lake-effect snow. No matter where you live in Michigan, you are only likely to see between 65 and 75 clear days each year.
6. West Virginia. The Allegheny Mountains that stretch along the border between West Virginia and Virginia are responsible for much of the overcast weather in this state. The Alleghenies trap moisture moving in from the north and west, and most of the state sees only 60 to 65 clear days a year. One city, Elkins, gets just 48 clear days annually, which puts it in contention for the cloudiest city east of the Mississippi.
5. Oregon. Oregon’s climate is a product of the Pacific Ocean and the state’s many mountain ranges. As ocean air drifts inland, the mountainous terrain forces those moist air masses up, forming clouds and dumping rain and snow as they rise. Coastal and valley cities like Astoria, Eugene, and Portland see between 50 and 75 sunny days a year. Cross the Cascades, though, and eastern Oregon is genuinely sunny. Medford and Burns report 120 clear days a year.
4. New York. New York owns several climate factors that push it high on this list. The Great Lakes contribute a steady flow of lake-effect snow days, the state sits on a collision course with cold northwestern air masses, and it lies alongside the St. Lawrence Valley storm track. Binghamton and Buffalo only see about 52 to 54 days of sunshine each year.
3. Alaska. Many readers assume Alaska is the cloudiest state in the country. The truth is more nuanced. The majority of Alaska gets roughly as much sun as the Great Plains. The shore along the Gulf of Alaska is an entirely different story. Juneau averages just 44 days of sun per year. Farther up the Gulf, Anchorage and Fairbanks get between 60 and 70 clear days annually.
2. Vermont. Lake Champlain, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Green Mountains all account for Vermont’s huge number of overcast days. Winds blow storms in from the northwest through winter and the southwest through summer. With a highly active climate, Vermont only sees 58 days of full sunshine each year statewide.
1. Washington. Washington State runs on a climate similar to Oregon’s, but more extreme. Between the Pacific Ocean effects, the Cascades, and the mountain-induced rain shadow, Olympia receives 52 days of full sun per year. Seattle fares slightly better at 71 days of full sunshine. As in Oregon, the eastern half of the state sees far more sun — places like Yakima get as many as 109 days of full sun each year.
The Rankings at a Glance
| Rank | State | Representative city/range | Full-sun days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | Olympia 52 / Seattle 71 / Yakima 109 | 52 statewide low |
| 2 | Vermont | Statewide | 58 |
| 3 | Alaska | Juneau 44 / Anchorage 60-70 | 44 Gulf-coast low |
| 4 | New York | Binghamton / Buffalo | 52-54 |
| 5 | Oregon | Astoria / Eugene / Portland 50-75 / Medford 120 | 50-75 west |
| 6 | West Virginia | Elkins 48 / statewide | 60-65 (Elkins 48) |
| 7 | Michigan | Statewide | 65-75 |
| 8 | Ohio | South of Lake Erie 63-68 / central 72-77 | 63-77 |
| 9 | Montana | Kalispell / Missoula | 70-75 |
| 10 | Connecticut | Hartford 82 / Bridgeport 99 | 82-99 |
Why the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes Belt Dominate
Two geographies drive this list. On the west coast, the Pacific Ocean pushes moist air inland where the Cascades and Sierra Nevada force it up; the moisture condenses into clouds, the clouds drop rain and snow, and the sky stays gray for weeks at a time. That is why Washington and Oregon sit in the top five despite their eastern halves being sunny. The marine-influenced coast is the part that counts.
On the Great Lakes belt, cold winds sweep across warm lake water and pick up enormous amounts of moisture, which settles as lake-effect cloud cover and lake-effect snow for months at a time. Michigan, Ohio, New York, and even Connecticut and Vermont catch these patterns. Compare this list to our 10 best weather cities and our 10 worst weather cities, and the pattern snaps into focus: the desert Southwest owns the sunny end of the sunshine scale, the wet coastal Northwest and Great Lakes own the cloudy end.
Living With the Gray — What Cloudy Residents Know
Residents of Washington, Vermont, and the Great Lakes states tend to run vitamin D supplements from October to March. They swap out gardening plans to favor shade-tolerant crops. They get smart about waterproof gear early. Our Planting Calendar is a practical companion if your growing window is squeezed by low light and long overcast stretches; planting-by-moon timing is even more useful when daylight hours are short.
There is also a charm to cloud. Overcast skies soften harsh contrasts, make landscapes look painterly, and keep summer heat down. A Seattle June morning has a particular quality of quiet light that the desert does not offer. If you love that, every one of these states is a good fit. If you do not, plan your vacations accordingly — and read our long-range forecast before you pick a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cloudiest state in the US?
Washington, based on full-sun days in its population centers. Olympia sees 52 full-sun days a year. Seattle gets 71. The Pacific Ocean and the Cascades together keep the western half of the state under a steady marine cloud layer.
Is Alaska the cloudiest state?
Not overall. Most of Alaska gets about as much sunshine as the Great Plains. But the coast along the Gulf of Alaska is genuinely cloudy. Juneau averages just 44 days of sun per year, making it the cloudiest major city on this list.
Which city has the fewest sunny days in the lower 48?
Elkins, West Virginia gets just 48 clear days a year, which puts it among the cloudiest cities in the contiguous 48. Olympia, Washington follows closely at 52.
Why are so many cloudy states near the Great Lakes?
Cold winds pass over relatively warm lake water through fall and winter, picking up large amounts of moisture. That moisture condenses into cloud and lake-effect snow. The pattern keeps skies gray for weeks at a time across Michigan, Ohio, New York, and neighboring states.
Are some parts of Washington or Oregon actually sunny?
Yes. Eastern Washington and eastern Oregon sit in a rain shadow behind the Cascades. Yakima, Washington averages 109 days of full sun a year. Medford, Oregon averages 120. Coastal cities get far less, which is why the statewide rankings land both states in the top five cloudiest.
What counts as a day of full sunshine?
National Weather Service data counts a day as fully sunny when the station reports clear or nearly clear conditions for most of daylight hours. Partial sun days, when the sky is neither fully overcast nor fully clear, are not counted in the numbers above.
Amber Kanuckel
Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental, and green living topics.
- Amber Kanuckel
- Amber Kanuckel
- Amber Kanuckel
- Amber Kanuckel
This is a poorly researched article. Prevailing winds move west to east, meaning Lake Huron is not really a source of cloudiness for Michigan, but rather Ontario. It’s Lake Michigan in relation to the Lower Peninsula and Superior in relation to the Upper Peninsula that contributes to the cloudiness.
Shut up ? lol Go get some vitamin D.
FYI, Medford, Oregon is not in the eastern part of the state. Use a map.
I highly disagree with the Oregon comment. Oregon in the summer literally has around 4 months of cloudless skies.
Only when you get east of the Cascades into central and eastern Oregon.
Neat trick considering there are only 3 months of summer.
Its hilarious to me that some ppl can hate sunny weather to the point they actually get this angry about this article. Here in Ohio ppl flock outdoors whenever the sun comes out and everyone comments how nice it is, so it’s very obvious that the majority of ppl DO like sunshine. Those who hate it are indeed a minority. It’s also a fact that lack of sun can lead to depression… see any connection..?
AMEN – Depression AND Anger, Apparently .
~ M A N Y, FIND IT
N E C E S S A R Y, To incorporate ‘Mood Stabilizing’, Medication(s), Due to SAD- A PHysically Based Condition .
Lack Of SUN, Not Only Produces, A Lack Of ‘VItAMIN D’….It ALSO Affects How Much MELATONIN, YOUR BODY
Can Assist You With – After Sundown, to Enhance GOOD SLEEP – A Human Health Demand!!!
Everybody relax everyone has a different opinion and feel to the weather they like. Let’s not gang up on anyone.
I agree with Guy to the point that not everyone likes sunny and hot days all the time. There are people that like medium cool temperatures and shaded areas. Hence the term got it made in the shade with some lemonade. That’s because there’s nothing more depressing than oppression.
Guy is surely a cave dwelling hermit who dislikes people. Lol
I like to tell people Ohio has the Ravenna air force base, and the alien and ships from Roswell new Mexico. Because Ohio is one of the cloudiest places in America, and satellites will have a hard time seeing stuff. Makes Ohio sound cooler than it is cause everyone’s depressed from the lack of sun.
is it alaska?
you guys kill your self i hate you but i like you guys just kidding is wait? it Nevada?
wow thats cool
really