With the arrival of the winter solstice comes both the shortest day and longest night of 2024.

As Americans adjust to the colder weather, one question on many minds: When will it stop getting dark so quickly?

Although the Earth’s tilt is responsible for the extra darkness on Saturday, semi-annual time changes are the work of humans. With the exception of Hawaii and Arizona, almost all states in the USA observe daylight saving time, which is intended to ensure more daylight on winter mornings.

Daylight saving time ended last month as we moved the clocks back an hour. And while the extra hour of sleep was appreciated on November 3rd, many are counting down the days until the sun sets later that night.

Here’s what you should know about the next winter solstice and the next national time difference, including efforts to permanently eliminate it.

When is the winter solstice?

The 2024 winter solstice will occur in the Northern Hemisphere on Saturday, December 21st at 4:20 a.m. EST. according to the National Weather Service.

It is expected to be the shortest day and longest night of 2024 in the Northern Hemisphere as that part of the Earth tilts away from the sun. The summer solstice will now take place on June 20, 2025.