United States Prepares for Winter Solstice on December 21 With the Shortest Daylight Hours of the Year Across All Regions
UNITED STATES — Americans across every region will experience the shortest day of the year this Sunday as the winter solstice arrives on December 21, 2025, marking the official start of astronomical winter. The solstice occurs at 10:03 AM ET (9:03 AM CT | 8:03 AM MT | 7:03 AM PT) and brings the lowest sun angle and longest night of the year.
How Much Daylight Each Region Will See
A national daylight map shows how widely daylight duration varies depending on location, with northern states receiving far less sunlight than those in the South:
- Northern Tier (Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota): ~8 hours to 8 hr 46 min
- Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Ohio): ~9 hr 20 min
- Central & Southern Plains (Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri): ~9 hr 48 min
- Deep South (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida): ~10 hr 12 min to 10 hr 35 min
- Northeast (New York, Pennsylvania, New England): Around 8 hr 4 min to 8 hr 30 min
These daylight totals represent the shortest amounts residents will experience all year.
After Sunday, the Sun Begins Gaining Ground Again
While the solstice marks the beginning of winter, it also begins the slow return of longer days. Starting Monday, daylight will increase—only by a few seconds at first, but gradually more as the season progresses.
Meteorologists emphasize that although temperatures typically continue trending colder through January and February, the solstice represents an important turning point in the Earth’s tilt and sunlight exposure.
Why the Winter Solstice Happens
The solstice occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest away from the Sun, causing sunlight to take its lowest path across the sky. This leads to:
- Shorter days
- Longer nights
- Lower sun angles
- Colder seasonal patterns
Despite winter still being underway, the solstice signals the shift toward increasing daylight, offering a psychological boost for many who feel the impact of early sunsets.
What Residents Should Expect
- Sunday will bring the longest night of the year
- Monday onward will gradually add more daylight
- Temperatures will remain seasonal despite increasing sunlight
- No major weather hazards are tied to the solstice itself
For many, the solstice serves as a reminder that even in the darkest part of the season, the light begins to return. How do you feel about the shortest day of the year? Share your thoughts and stay updated at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
