WINTER SOLSTICE: Winter begins.
Today is the winter solstice and first official day of winter and the shortest day of the year
Here, the solstice will take place at 11:28 a.m., according to EarthSky.org.
The organization shared some other interesting facts about the solstice and the winter season.
To start, sunsets last longer at this time of year, as well as around the summer solstice, than around the autumnal and spring equinoxes. That’s because during the solstices, the sun sets farthest from due west, EarthSky reported, saying a solstice sun takes about 3¼ minutes to set, while an equinox sun takes about 2¾ minutes.
Also, while it sometimes feels like time is dragging when we’re dealing with the winter weather, winter is actually they shortest season in the northern hemisphere, lasting just under 89 days, compared to a northern hemisphere summer of nearly 94 days.
The reason, according to EarthSky, is that the Earth moves more rapidly when it’s closest to the sun.
Learn more at EarthSky.org.
And while today will bring the fewest daylight minutes, there is another day that has the potential to bring even more discomfort.
One digital media company reported that this winter in Pennsylvania, that day will be Jan. 10. It’s a combination of cold and dark that made the determination.
“Weather stats taken from the last 30 years pinpoint on which day each state is forecast to experience the coldest temperature and least amount of solar energy,” a release on the asserted “most miserable day” stated.
The website sleepopolis researched data from the past 30 years to come up with the date. The coldest date, on average, is Jan. 29 at 30.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
While Jan. 10 takes the title here in the Keystone State, it’s different across the country. For instance, the earliest “most miserable day” this winter in Washington state is alleged to be just one day from now — Dec. 22.
Sleepopolis recommends planning a day of wearing extra sweaters and wool socks and spending extra time in bed watching television.
We can’t argue with that.
