Solar Summer Ends, Summer Halfway Over

Vickie Frantz
By Vickie Frantz, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
August 07, 2012; 8:09 PM
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This squirrel resting on a fence photograph is courtesy of Flickr user johnwk.

Weary of the steamy hot weather? Good news, the solar summer ends today and the astronomical summer is halfway over. Bad news, it is not the end of the hot weather.

The end of the solar summer means that the quarter of the year when the Northern Hemisphere receives the greatest amount of sunlight has ended.

With the solar summer over, gradually, the days will shorten and the sun will appear lower in the sky.

Those of you who haven't taken a summer vacation yet, don't worry. The astronomical summer is halfway over, but it doesn't end until September 21.

Enjoy the last few weeks of our summer days this year. Take a trip to the beach, amusement park or camp out.

It won't be long before the children head back to school and the street lights come on before 6 p.m. EDT.

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