Raleigh, NC – Winter officially arrived across North Carolina today as the Winter Solstice occurred this morning, bringing the shortest day and longest night of the year to the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, the winter solstice took place at 10:03 a.m., marking the official start of astronomical winter. Across central North Carolina, residents are experiencing just under 9 hours and 45 minutes of daylight, making today the darkest day of the year.
In the Raleigh area, sunrise occurred around 7:21 a.m., with sunset just after 5:00 p.m., significantly limiting daylight hours compared to summer months. Similar daylight totals are being observed across Wake County, Durham County, Johnston County, and surrounding areas of central North Carolina.
While today marks the shortest day, meteorologists note that there is encouraging news moving forward. Beginning Monday, daylight will slowly start increasing, adding a small amount of sunlight each day through late June, when the Summer Solstice arrives.
Despite the increasing daylight, forecasters caution that the coldest part of winter often occurs later, typically in January or February. Residents should still prepare for freezing temperatures, possible winter storms, and hazardous travel conditions in the weeks ahead.
Communities across the Triangle, the Piedmont, and eastern North Carolina are encouraged to stay weather-aware and monitor forecasts as winter settles in and seasonal conditions evolve.
