What you should know about the shortest day of the year

At the winter solstice, often referred to as the shortest day of the year and the first day of winter, Milwaukee has less than 10 hours of daylight. This year it falls on Saturday December 21st.

Although the days are getting shorter, December sees numerous celestial events that light up the night sky, including a meteor shower and the last full moon of the year.

Here’s what you should know about the solstice and how much daylight Wisconsinites can expect:

When is the first official day of winter?

Technically, there are two possible answers depending on whether one follows the meteorological or astronomical definition of the seasons.

According to meteorological definition, the first day of winter was Sunday, December 1st. By astronomical definition, the first day will be Saturday, December 21, as it is marked by the approaching winter solstice, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

What is the winter solstice?

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the winter solstice is considered the shortest day of the year because it has the fewest hours of daylight. It always takes place on either December 21st or 22nd.

Although some believe it lasts all day, the winter solstice actually occurs at the precise moment “when a hemisphere is tilted as far away from the sun as possible,” says the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

This year it’s 4:21 a.m. EST.

After the winter solstice, daylight gradually begins to lengthen until the summer solstice, which is also known as the longest day of the year.

Not only is the winter solstice the shortest day of the year, but winter is also typically the shortest season in the Northern Hemisphere, says the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

How many hours of daylight will Wisconsin have on the winter solstice?

According to timeanddate.com, sunrise in Milwaukee on December 21st is at 7:20 a.m. and sunset is at 4:20 p.m. That’s nine hours of sunlight, compared to the more than 15 hours of daylight the city experienced on June 20, this year’s summer solstice.

Meanwhile, timeanddate.com says Madison will see a sunrise at 7:26 a.m. and a sunset at 4:25 p.m. on Dec. 21.

Which state has the shortest days?

Alaska has the shortest daylight hours in the country. According to timeanddate.com, sunrise on December 21st in Fairbanks is 10:58 a.m. and sunset is 2:40 p.m. In Juneau, sunrise on the winter solstice is 8:44 a.m. and sunset is 3:07 p.m

When does winter end?

As with the official start of the season, there are two possible answers for the end.

The meteorological end of winter is Friday, February 28, 2025, while the astronomical end is Thursday, March 20, 2025, the start of the vernal equinox, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

What are the astronomical dates for the four seasons in 2025?

Here’s where the seasons begin in 2025, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac:

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