The winter solstice, which happens at 10:59 a.m. Tuesday, marks the first day of winter.
Dec. 21 also is the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted at its furthest point away from the sun.
However, the day also starts the transition to longer days.
Welcome to the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice! We will start gaining daylight tomorrow, although it will only be a few seconds. It will take a few weeks before we see a difference. Did you know that the coldest avg temps are actually mid-late Jan? #wmiwx pic.twitter.com/TI93aEhV7L
— NWS Grand Rapids (@NWSGrandRapids) December 21, 2021
Even though the daylight hours increase, there is a seasonal lag to temperatures. The lowest average temperatures are usually recorded in the middle of January.
The summer solstice is June 21, the longest day of the year.
About the Author