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Winter Solstice Brings Shortest Day to the Northern Hemisphere. Here’s Why
The Northern Hemisphere's shortest day features less than 12 hours of daylight due to Earth's tilt, marking the start of astronomical winter, NASA reported.
- On Sunday, Dec. 21, the Northern Hemisphere experiences its shortest day and longest night, marking the astronomical start of winter between Dec. 21 and Dec. 22.
- Because the northern half is tilted away from the Sun, Earth's axis places the Sun at its lowest noontime point for 2025, producing the seasonal change.
- Timing details show the solstice is an exact moment at Dec. 21 at 10:03 a.m. Eastern Time, with the Northern Hemisphere receiving less than 12 hours of daylight while the Southern Hemisphere gets more than 12 hours, according to NASA and the Old Farmer's Almanac.
- After the solstice, daylight hours will gradually lengthen, reversing the shortest-day pattern, while meteorological winter began on Dec. 1, marking the Northern Hemisphere's three coldest months, the NCEI says.
- Calendar variation shows the autumnal equinox can fall between Sept. 21 and 24, while the vernal equinox lands between March 19 and 21, shifting with leap years.
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Winter solstice 2025: Here’s when the longest night and shortest day arrives in Ontario
The winter solstice has both the shortest day and the longest night. It marks the first day of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere — and it’s happening soon in Ontario.
·Hamilton, Canada
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Total News Sources16
Leaning Left2Leaning Right1Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution79% Center
Bias Distribution
- 79% of the sources are Center
79% Center
14%
C 79%
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