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Hot in Parts of the West; Cold Blast Coming to the Central U.S.

Hot to extremely hot temperatures are in place much of this week across parts of California and the interior Northwest U.S. A blast of cold air will drop across the central and eastern U.S. later this week bringing below to well below normal temperatures. Read More >

The first day of meteorological winter officially begins Monday morning. Monday is the shortest day of the year, and tonight is the longest night. Each day will get a little longer until June 20th. 

 

  Sunrise Sunset Daylength (hours)
Madison:      
December 19, 2020 7:25 AM 4:25 PM 8:59:51
December 20, 2020 7:26 AM 4:25 PM 8:59:45
December 21, 2020 7:26 AM 4:26 PM 8:59:45
December 22, 2020 7:27 AM 4:26 PM 8:59:48
Milwaukee:      
December 19, 2020 7:19 AM 4:19 PM 9:00:07
December 20, 2020 7:20 AM 4:20 PM 9:00:02
December 21, 2020 7:20 AM 4:20 PM 9:00:01
December 22, 2020 7:21 AM 4:21 PM 9:00:05

source: https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc/ and https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa

https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc/table.php?lat=43.0731&lon=-89.4012&year=2020

https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc/table.php?lat=43.0389&lon=-87.9065&year=2020

 

The Winter Solstice occurs on Monday, December 21st at 4:02 am (10:02 UTC, Dec 21). This is when the Sun is directly overhead at "high noon" at the Tropic Of Capricorn, or -23.5 degrees of latitude south of the equator. The Summer Solstice, on the other hand, is when the sun is directly overhead at "high noon" at the Tropic Of Cancer, or +23.5 degrees latitude north of the equator. The shortest daylight hours of the year are around the Winter Solstice. For more info, go here: https://scijinks.gov/solstice/​