Top 10 Gloomiest Cities in the US

Cloudy days are perfect for curling up with a book, a loved one, or a pet by the fireplace—but too many in a row can start to take a toll on your mood and mental health. In fact, studies show that people living in with less sunlight are more likely to experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Even the biggest fan of cozy sweaters and warm drinks still needs a healthy dose of sunshine and vitamin D to feel their best.

Whether you’re planning your next vacation or looking for a warm, sunny place to move to, read our list to scope out which American cities are the cloudiest in the contiguous U.S. (which are the sunniest) and where your city ranks. 

As the northernmost state, Alaska ranks as the cloudiest state in the U.S., but when looking at the contiguous U.S., Washington is home to 3 out of the top 10 cloudiest cities. Overall, 1/2 of the most overcast cities are in the Pacific Northwest in Oregon and Washington, while the other 1/2 are on the East Coast in New York, West Virginia, and New Hampshire.

Annual cloudy days: 244

282.5 cloudiness score

With an average of over 244 cloudy days and 77 partly cloudy days per year, Mt. Washington is the gloomiest city in the contiguous United States. 

Annual cloudy days: 239

277 cloudiness score

With an average of over 239 cloudy days and 76 partly cloudy days per year, Astoria is the 2nd gloomiest city in the contiguous United States. . 

Annual cloudy days: 239

276.5 cloudiness score

With an average of over 239 cloudy days and 75 partly cloudy days per year, Quillayute is the 3rd gloomiest city in the contiguous United States. 

Annual cloudy days: 228

270 cloudiness score

With an average of over 228 cloudy days and 84 partly cloudy days per year, Olympia is the 4th gloomiest city in the contiguous United States. 

Annual cloudy days: 226

267 cloudiness score

With an average of over 226 cloudy days and 82 partly cloudy days per year, Seattle is the 5th gloomiest city in the contiguous United States. 

Annual cloudy days: 212

263.5 cloudiness score

With an average of over 212 cloudy days and 103 partly cloudy days per year, Elkins is the 6th gloomiest city in the contiguous United States. 

Annual cloudy days: 212

263 cloudiness score

With an average of over 212 cloudy days and 102 partly cloudy days per year, Binghamton is the 7th gloomiest city in the contiguous United States. 

Annual cloudy days: 208

259.5 cloudiness score

With an average of over 208 cloudy days and 103 partly cloudy days per year, Buffalo is the 8th gloomiest city in the contiguous United States. 

Annual cloudy days: 222

259 cloudiness score

With an average of over 222 cloudy days and 74 partly cloudy days per year, Portland is the 9th gloomiest city in the contiguous United States. 

Annual cloudy days: 210

257.5 cloudiness score

With an average of over 210 cloudy days and 95 partly cloudy days per year, Beckley is the 10th gloomiest city in the contiguous United States. 

Here's the full list of cities with the most and least cloud coverage. Check to see how your hometown ranks when compared to the least sunny cities in the U.S.

Note: This full list contains only cities in the contiguous United States and excludes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories. 

Our rankings were based on annual cloud cover as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

While other factors like a given city’s culture and annual precipitation may have been mentioned throughout this article, these supplemental factors weren’t used in our rankings.