# Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Kelowna, Canada

> How to research solar altitude & azimuth for a specific site in Kelowna — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

- Canonical: https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-altitude-azimuth-kelowna-ca/
- Last updated: 2026-09-02
- Data source: Location data from the [GeoNames CA dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/CA.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 5990579). Regulatory starting point: [Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial authority](https://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/codes-canada/codes-canada-publications). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained. Project-date refinement reference: [NREL Solar Position Algorithm](https://midcdmz.nrel.gov/spa/).

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Location reference | 49.8831, -119.4857 (GeoNames ID 5990579; replace with surveyed project coordinates) |
| Administrative area | 02 (GeoNames snapshot code; confirm the competent local jurisdiction) |
| Regulatory starting point | National Building Code of Canada plus provincial, territorial, and municipal adoption (country-level context only; identify the competent local authority) |
| June-solstice solar-noon check | 63.6° (declination-only geometry; not an hourly obstruction model) |
| Equinox solar-noon check | 40.1° (declination-only geometry) |
| December-solstice solar-noon check | 16.7° (declination-only geometry; verify civil time and horizon) |
| Approximate daylight range | 7.9–16.1 hours (representative 21st-day geometry (December to June); excludes refraction and terrain) |

## Direct answer

For Kelowna at 49.8831, -119.4857, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 63.6° at the June solstice, 40.1° at an equinox and 16.7° at the December solstice. Refine these geometry checks with the project date, civil time, facade azimuth, terrain and local horizon. The reproducible location record is GeoNames ID 5990579 in administrative area 02, at 49.8831, -119.4857; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 63.6° at the June solstice, 40.1° at an equinox and 16.7° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 7.9 hours in December to 16.1 hours in June; this excludes atmospheric refraction, terrain and obstruction effects. The cited national authority is a discovery starting point; current local documents and a named qualified reviewer control project use of this solar altitude and azimuth record.

*Content and cited inputs reviewed by [Scott Barrington](https://nz.linkedin.com/in/barrington), Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-02.*

## What must be verified for Kelowna?

Kelowna is represented here at approximately **49.8831, -119.4857** for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.

## How should solar altitude and azimuth be established?

1. Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
2. Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
3. Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
4. Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
5. Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.

| Input | Project-specific evidence | QA question |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Site | surveyed coordinates, elevation and horizon | Does the point represent the building? |
| Weather/solar method | named dataset, algorithm, period and time basis | Are station, time zone and units explicit? |
| Design scenario | current and future scenario agreed by the team | Is an average being mistaken for an extreme? |
| Compliance | adopted local document and edition | Was applicability confirmed with the authority? |

## What are the limits of this worksheet?

This solar-angle-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Kelowna site remain authoritative.

## Kelowna monthly solar geometry check for solar altitude & azimuth

| Representative date | Declination | Solar-noon altitude | Geometric daylight | Noon shadow / height |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 21 January | -20.14° | 19.98° | 8.560 h | 2.751 |
| 21 February | -11.23° | 28.89° | 10.183 h | 1.812 |
| 21 March | -0.40° | 39.71° | 11.936 h | 1.204 |
| 21 April | +11.58° | 51.70° | 13.876 h | 0.790 |
| 21 May | +20.14° | 60.25° | 15.440 h | 0.571 |
| 21 June | +23.45° | 63.57° | 16.131 h | 0.497 |
| 21 July | +20.44° | 60.56° | 15.501 h | 0.564 |
| 21 August | +11.75° | 51.87° | 13.906 h | 0.785 |
| 21 September | -0.20° | 39.92° | 11.968 h | 1.195 |
| 21 October | -11.75° | 28.36° | 10.094 h | 1.852 |
| 21 November | -20.44° | 19.68° | 8.499 h | 2.797 |
| 21 December | -23.45° | 16.67° | 7.869 h | 3.340 |

## Kelowna solar-geometry fingerprint at 49.8831, -119.4857

- **Kelowna, 21 January:** declination -20.14°, noon altitude 19.98°, zenith 70.02°, geometric daylight 8.560 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.751.
- **Kelowna, 21 February:** declination -11.23°, noon altitude 28.89°, zenith 61.11°, geometric daylight 10.183 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.812.
- **Kelowna, 21 March:** declination -0.40°, noon altitude 39.71°, zenith 50.29°, geometric daylight 11.936 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.204.
- **Kelowna, 21 April:** declination +11.58°, noon altitude 51.70°, zenith 38.30°, geometric daylight 13.876 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.790.
- **Kelowna, 21 May:** declination +20.14°, noon altitude 60.25°, zenith 29.75°, geometric daylight 15.440 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.571.
- **Kelowna, 21 June:** declination +23.45°, noon altitude 63.57°, zenith 26.43°, geometric daylight 16.131 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.497.
- **Kelowna, 21 July:** declination +20.44°, noon altitude 60.56°, zenith 29.44°, geometric daylight 15.501 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.564.
- **Kelowna, 21 August:** declination +11.75°, noon altitude 51.87°, zenith 38.13°, geometric daylight 13.906 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.785.
- **Kelowna, 21 September:** declination -0.20°, noon altitude 39.92°, zenith 50.08°, geometric daylight 11.968 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.195.
- **Kelowna, 21 October:** declination -11.75°, noon altitude 28.36°, zenith 61.64°, geometric daylight 10.094 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.852.
- **Kelowna, 21 November:** declination -20.44°, noon altitude 19.68°, zenith 70.32°, geometric daylight 8.499 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.797.
- **Kelowna, 21 December:** declination -23.45°, noon altitude 16.67°, zenith 73.33°, geometric daylight 7.869 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 3.340.

Harth computed the Kelowna fingerprint for latitude 49.8831° with the Cooper declination approximation, `90° - |latitude - declination|` at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and `1 / tan(altitude)` shadow ratio. Longitude -119.4857° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See [NOAA's solar calculation details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html). Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.

## Where can you explore related guidance?

- [Explore all solar data guidance](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data.md)
- [Sun Path: Kelowna, Canada](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/sun-path-kelowna-ca.md)
- [Solar Shading Design: Kelowna, Canada](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-shading-design-kelowna-ca.md)
- [Daylight & Orientation: Kelowna, Canada](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/daylight-orientation-kelowna-ca.md)
- [Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Coquitlam, Canada](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-altitude-azimuth-coquitlam-ca.md)
- [All solar & daylight data guidance for Canada](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/canada.md)
- [Climate Design Data: Kelowna, Canada](https://harth.build/resources/climate-data/climate-design-data-kelowna-ca.md)
- [House Construction Cost Planning: Kelowna, Canada](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/house-construction-cost-kelowna-ca.md)
- [Office Construction Cost Planning: Kelowna, Canada](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/office-construction-cost-kelowna-ca.md)
- [Retail Construction Cost Planning: Kelowna, Canada](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/retail-construction-cost-kelowna-ca.md)

## Sources and method

Location data from the [GeoNames CA dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/CA.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 5990579). Regulatory starting point: [Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial authority](https://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/codes-canada/codes-canada-publications). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained. Project-date refinement reference: [NREL Solar Position Algorithm](https://midcdmz.nrel.gov/spa/).

### Source links

- [download.geonames.org](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/CA.zip)

- [nrc.canada.ca](https://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/codes-canada/codes-canada-publications)

- [gml.noaa.gov](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html)

- [midcdmz.nrel.gov](https://midcdmz.nrel.gov/spa/)

## Frequently asked questions

### What does the solar altitude and azimuth record for Kelowna establish?

The solar altitude and azimuth record for Kelowna establishes a reproducible discovery point at 49.8831, -119.4857 (GeoNames ID 5990579, administrative area 02) and a Canada source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.

### What must be replaced before using this solar altitude and azimuth workflow for a project in Kelowna?

For the solar altitude and azimuth record in Kelowna, replace the 49.8831, -119.4857 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under National Building Code of Canada plus provincial, territorial, and municipal adoption. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.

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