Even though we’ve had cold and some snow, it’s not officially winter yet. However, meteorologists define winter by three calendar months: December, January and February.

What You Need To Know

  • Winter officially begins on Dec. 21

  • The winter solstice is the day we have the least daylight and longest night of the year

  • The length of daylight gradually goes up after Dec. 21

The solstice is an event that happens twice per year, once in summer and once in winter. This year, the winter solstice occurs on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 10:59 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 and three minutes of daylight.

The sunrise in Syracuse on Dec. 21 is at 7:31 a.m. and the sunset is at 4:34 p.m. After the winter solstice, 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 16 minutes of daylight.

In terms of temperatures, the average high for Dec. 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!