WASHINGTON – The winter solstice, the official start of winter, is Saturday, December 21, 2024.

For those north of the equator, the solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year.

At the winter solstice in 2024, the sun will be at its lowest midday point in the sky. This is because the northern half of the Earth is then tilted furthest away from the sun due to the planet’s axis.

Conversely, those south of the equator also experience the longest day of the year – the so-called summer solstice. According to NASA, the Northern Hemisphere will have less than 12 hours of daylight, while the southern half of the Earth will have more than 12 hours of daylight.

After the solstice, the days gradually grow longer, offering a glimmer of hope for those awaiting the return of longer daylight hours.

The longest day of the year will come on the summer solstice in June.

The winter solstice begins at 4:20 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, December 21, according to TimeandDate.

While the winter solstice is often thought to be an event that spans an entire calendar day, the solstice actually lasts just a moment, explains the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

The winter solstice marks the start of astronomical winter between December 21st and 22nd each year.

In meteorology, the official start of the winter season is December 1st, the start of the three coldest months of the year in the northern half of the world.

According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, astronomical seasons are determined by the tilt of the Earth and the orientation of the Sun over the equator. These seasons are divided into summer and winter solstices and autumn and spring equinoxes.

Additionally, the start dates for solstices and equinoxes vary depending on whether it is a leap year.

According to NCEI, meteorological seasons are divided into groups of three months based on annual temperature cycles. These seasons are more closely aligned with our monthly calendar than astronomical seasons.