The day after the winter solstice, the Sun’s path begins to advance northward again, eventually reaching its most northerly point on the day of the summer solstice. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, this means that the Sun’s path is as low in the sky as it can get—even at high noon. Another way to think of this is that on the day of the solstice, the Sun’s path reaches its most southerly point in the sky. During the summer, the Sun arcs high in the sky, but during the winter, it arcs lower, closer to the horizon.
The moment of winter solstice is when the Sun’s elevation with respect to the North or South Pole is at its most negative value; that is, the Sun is at its farthest below the horizon as measured from the pole. It occurs after autumn and before spring, when the hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun as a result of the tilt of Earth’s axis.
The season change dates are based on the spring and fall equinoxes as well as the summer and winter solstices. Each season lasts approximately 3 months and corresponds to a period of the year which has a relative constancy in terms of temperature and climate. The polar vortex isn’t a storm—it’s a large swirling pool of very cold Arctic air that usually stays near the North Pole in winter. If the polar vortex shifts south, it could send colder-than-average air from Canada farther into the United States.
Astronomical reckoning
- I was born on December 22nd, and I remember looking at the calendar to see if it landed on the solstice.
- Strong El Niño winters often favor milder temperatures across much of the United States and wetter conditions in parts of the West and South.
- Blizzards occur when strong wind causes blowing snow and whiteout conditions, making roads impassable.
- Also winter season is the best time in the year to see starts in t night sky, due to they are the brightest in this time of the year.
- Thankfully, after we reach the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and longer again until we reach the summer solstice—the first day of summer and the longest day of the year.
In one astronomical reckoning, the winter solstice is the middle of winter; being the day of the year that has fewest hours of daylight. Since by almost all definitions valid for the Northern Hemisphere, winter spans 31 December and 1 January, meaning that the season takes up two calendar years, as summer does in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, depending on the year, this corresponds to the period between 20, 21 or 22 December and 19, 20 or 21 March.
In Chinese astronomy and other East Asian calendars, winter is taken to commence on or around 7 November, on Lìdōng, and end with the arrival of spring on 3 or 4 February, on Lìchūn. In Celtic nations, winter began on 1 November and the time around the winter solstice was seen as the middle of winter. Likewise, in Christian Anglo-Saxon calendars, winter began on 7 November, its midpoint was the solstice or Midwinter on 25 December, and winter ended on 6 February. In this region, snow occurs every year in elevated regions such as the Andes, the Great Dividing Range in Australia, the mountains of New Zealand, and in the southerly Patagonia region of South Argentina. The Swedish winwinter casino Meteorological Institute (SMHI) defines thermal winter as when the daily mean temperatures are below 0 °C (32 °F) for five consecutive days.
Equinoxes
Thankfully, after we reach the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and longer again until we reach the summer solstice—the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. (The Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice occurs in June.) For the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs every year between December 20 and 23, most often on December 20 or 21. If the astronomical or calendrical seasons begin with the equinoxes (spring and autumn) and solstices (summer and winter), in meteorology, they begin earlier and correspond to periods of three full months.
Also winter season is the best time in the year to see starts in t night sky, due to they are the brightest in this time of the year. Diamond dust, also known as ice needles or ice crystals, forms at temperatures approaching −40 °C (−40 °F) due to air with slightly higher moisture from above mixing with colder, surface-based air. The 3 months of shortest days began around November 5th, centred on the solstice. Winter began on December 1st, the start of the 3 coldest months. For the ancient Celts, the calendar was based around the solstices and equinoxes, marking the Quarter Days, with the midpoints called Cross-Quarter Days.
Season dates for the year 2026
- Across much of the country, temperatures are expected to be near normal or warmer than normal.
- The winter solstice marks the official beginning of astronomical winter (as opposed to meteorological winter, which starts about 3 weeks before the solstice).
- For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, this means that the Sun’s path is as low in the sky as it can get—even at high noon.
- Because of these factors, it’s impossible to point to the same date year after year and call it the coldest day.
- The moment of winter solstice is when the Sun’s elevation with respect to the North or South Pole is at its most negative value; that is, the Sun is at its farthest below the horizon as measured from the pole.
In the « astronomical » reckoning, the timing of « winter » is based on astronomical fixed points (i.e., based solely on the position of the Earth in its orbit around the Sun), regardless of weather conditions. In the Julian calendar used in the ancient Roman world, winter began on 10 November, its midpoint was the winter solstice on 25 December, and winter ended on 6 February. Winter is often defined by meteorologists to be the three calendar months with the lowest average temperatures. Different cultures define different dates as the start of winter, and some use a definition based on weather.
At The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we’ve been forecasting the weather since the days of George Washington—over 234 years ago—so we know a thing or two about making predictions. In colder regions, winter often means shoveling, snow blowing, dealing with bad roads, and challenging temperatures. Learn more about the Celtic calendar. Meteorological winter starts on December 1 and includes December, January, and February. Thus, meteorologists break the seasons down into groupings of three months. Because of these factors, it’s impossible to point to the same date year after year and call it the coldest day.
Mostly Mild Winter — Colder, Snowier Spots Ahead!
The winter solstice is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight throughout the year, making it the shortest day of the year. So, what is the winter solstice, and why does it happen? In 2026, the winter solstice date is Monday, December 21.
