Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Forensics
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms Chevron right
Tropical rainstorm soaks Florida, could strengthen in Gulf before targeting Louisiana Chevron right

Columbus, OH

88°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

88°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Forensics

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

Winter solstice: Everything you need to know about the shortest day of the year

The winter solstice marks the first official day of the winter season and also signals the slow return to more sunlight and longer days.

By Monica Danielle, AccuWeather Managing Editor

Copied

AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Lada explains the winter solstice and what it means for your love of daylight.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year with the longest night of the year. The December solstice also marks the official start of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere, taking place this year on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 4:20 a.m. EST. This is different than meteorological winter, which starts on Dec. 1.

But the solstice is also a signal of more daylight to come in the following days, and it's one of the origins of the modern winter holidays. It coincides with the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Seasons change on Earth because the planet is slightly tilted on its axis as it travels around the Sun.

The December solstice marks the moment the sun shines at the Earth's most southern point, directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun and the Southern Hemisphere is pointed towards it. As a result, those in the Northern Hemisphere get less sunlight, meaning colder weather. According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson, the winter solstice marks the time when the Northern and Southern hemispheres begin to trade places in receiving the sun’s most direct light and warmth.  

The word solstice comes from the Latin words "sol," meaning sun, and "sistere," meaning to stop.

“It’s really a standing point in the movement of the sun,” said Anthony Aveni, professor emeritus of astronomy, anthropology and Native American studies at Colgate University.

GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

  •   Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+

On the December solstice, all locations south of the equator have day lengths greater than 12 hours. Meanwhile, all locations north of the equator, like the United States, have days less than 12 hours long. The gradually shortened hours of sunlight that culminate into the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere can often have a '"winter doldrums" sort of effect on people.

But rest assured, there is a silver lining. Once the winter solstice passes, the days will get longer and the nights shorter north of the equator until the summer solstice on June 20, 2025, when things reverse. 

According to Aveni, the tension over whether the sun would ever come back caused ancient peoples to wonder what they could do to appease the gods.

winter solstice stonehenge

The sun passes through the stones after rising at the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge, in southern England, as access to the site is given to druids, New Age followers and members of the public on the annual Winter Solstice, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

AP

For example, the Greeks made offerings to the god Apollo, the Incas to the sun god Inti and the Mayans to the god Kinich Ahau. For a week each December, the ancient Romans also celebrated the solstice by honoring the god Saturn.

When Christianity came onto the world scene, Aveni said, those ancient solstice celebrations evolved into Christmas. He said the time of the birth of Jesus Christ was not actually in December but was changed to fit the season’s celebrations.

Read more:

When and where to see the Geminid meteor shower
Why meteorological, astronomical winter start on 2 different dates
December's Cosmic Calendar: Jupiter shines bright, Geminids glisten

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app.AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Death toll reaches 129 in Texas as new flash flood threat expands

Jul. 13, 2025
Weather Forecasts

Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms

Jul. 14, 2025
Weather News

The Deadliest Floods in Texas History: A State at Risk

Jul. 14, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms

2 hours ago

Weather News

Thunderstorms bring more flooding, evacuations to central Texas

1 hour ago

Hurricane

Tropical trouble in the Atlantic may brew this week

4 hours ago

Weather News

Grand Canyon fires force closures

1 hour ago

Severe Weather

Wildfire smoke may follow storms, severe weather in eastern US

19 minutes ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Recreation

Yellowstone’s landscape shifts again with discovery of new hot pool

3 hours ago

Weather News

Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why?

3 days ago

Health

How can families handle new anxieties around summer camp?

3 days ago

Business

Samsung is looking into more AI devices potentially including earrings...

3 days ago

Weather News

The US has a plan to breed millions of flies and drop them from planes

4 days ago

AccuWeather Weather News Winter solstice: Everything you need to know about the shortest day of the year
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...