Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-08-31

Sun Path: Kelowna, Canada

How to research sun path for a specific site in Kelowna — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

Last updated August 31, 2026 · 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.

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 sun path record.

Prepared by Harth · Prepared from the cited location and country sources; local project inputs remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.

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 sun path 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.
InputProject-specific evidenceQA question
Sitesurveyed coordinates, elevation and horizonDoes the point represent the building?
Weather/solar methodnamed dataset, algorithm, period and time basisAre station, time zone and units explicit?
Design scenariocurrent and future scenario agreed by the teamIs an average being mistaken for an extreme?
Complianceadopted local document and editionWas applicability confirmed with the authority?

What are the limits of this worksheet?

This sun-path-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 sun path

Representative dateDeclinationSolar-noon altitudeGeometric daylightNoon shadow / height
21 January-20.14°19.98°8.560 h2.751
21 February-11.23°28.89°10.183 h1.812
21 March-0.40°39.71°11.936 h1.204
21 April+11.58°51.70°13.876 h0.790
21 May+20.14°60.25°15.440 h0.571
21 June+23.45°63.57°16.131 h0.497
21 July+20.44°60.56°15.501 h0.564
21 August+11.75°51.87°13.906 h0.785
21 September-0.20°39.92°11.968 h1.195
21 October-11.75°28.36°10.094 h1.852
21 November-20.44°19.68°8.499 h2.797
21 December-23.45°16.67°7.869 h3.340

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. Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames CA dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 5990579). Regulatory starting point: Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial authority. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: NOAA Solar Calculation Details; the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.

Frequently asked questions

What does the sun path record for Kelowna establish?

The sun path 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 sun path workflow for a project in Kelowna?

For the sun path 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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