Even though we are now well into December, it’s not officially winter yet. However, meteorologists define winter by three calendar months: December, January and February.

The solstice is an event that happens twice per year, once in summer and once in winter. This year the winter solstice occurs on Monday, December 21 at 5:02 a.m.

The winter solstice occurs when the Earth's North Pole is at its maximum tilt away from the sun, putting the sun at its southernmost point in the sky.

In the Northern Hemisphere, where we live, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year. On this day this year, we’ll experience only nine hours of daylight.

Here’s an interesting stat: Syracuse has lost nearly 14 minutes of daylight just since December 1.

The sunrise time in Syracuse on December 21 is 7:33 a.m. and the sunset is at 4:32 p.m. Once the winter solstice occurs, the length of daylight will start to gradually go up with each passing day.

By the first day of March, we’ll have nearly 11 hours and 15 minutes of daylight.

In terms of temperatures, the average high for December 21 in Syracuse is 35 degrees. In just a few short months, the average high at the end of March is 50!

Have a safe, healthy and great winter season!