The Delaware Valley has already experienced some bitterly cold winter temperatures, but the coolest season of all officially begins on Saturday, December 21st.

The first day of meteorological winter, also known as the winter solstice, is also the darkest day of the year.

How much sunlight will the Philadelphia area get on Friday and Saturday? A mere nine hours, 19 minutes and 59 seconds.

Compared to the summer solstice, that’s five hours and 41 minutes less daylight than in June.

The winter solstice officially begins at 4:20 a.m. in the region and Old Man Winter kicks off the season with a freezing weekend and a lingering cold snap the following week.

On Saturday the maximum temperatures will only be around 35 degrees with mostly sunny skies.

On Sunday the temperatures really drop to zero and 20 degrees. High temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing. So when you’re out and about, you should dress appropriately for temperatures around 20°C.

But here’s the good news: After Saturday, the days will get a little longer as the calendar turns toward spring and summer.