National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Regional Outbreaks of Severe Weather Through Early Next Week; Early Season Heat Wave across the South

Active spring pattern across the center of our nation with several episodes of severe weather and heavy rainfall expected into next week. The potential for very large hail, long track tornadoes, severe wind gusts, frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes and flash flooding are in the outlook. Furthermore, dangerous early season heat wave continues for the Gulf Coast states into early next week. Read More >

The winter solstice takes place at 3:21 am CST on Saturday, December 21st. On this date, the amount of possible daylight is at its shortest amount. This does not actually line up with the earliest sunset and latest sunrise, though. The earliest sunset in our area occurred at the beginning of the month, while sunrise will get a few minutes later before its latest point at the end of the month.

During the winter solstice, the Earth's axis is tilted at its farthest point from the sun, 23.5 degrees. While we're actually about as close to the Sun as we typically get each year, it is the low sun angle that causes this period to be colder than summer. 

 

 Earliest sunset