We’re in the midst of the some of the darkest days of Canadian winters.
This is when daylight is limited for many as the sun angle is low in the sky. It reaches its lowest point at the winter solstice when the suns rays are directly pointed toward the Tropic of Capricorn.
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Solar cycle and time around the sun graphic
In the Canadian Arctic, these days are long and dark, so the sun does not even rise, with perpetual darkness.
As we get closer to the vernal equinox in March, we gain a little more daylight each day.
The vernal equinox is when the suns rays are directly in line with the equator. We then have 12 hours of daylight. We are long way off form that still.
Earth tilt from the sun angle in the Northern Hemisphere
Each day, though, is getting a bit brighter, so cities across Canada will see the sun until after 5 pm.
Toronto, Ont., will gain about 50 minutes of daylight between Jan. 20 and Feb. 10 as the city’s sunrise moves 22 minutes earlier in the day and the sunset slips back by 28 minutes.
Local sunset times after 5 p.m. in Canada
Calgary, Alta., meanwhile, is on track to gain 67 minutes of daylight by the second week of February, with much of the change arriving thanks to the sunset moving from 5:06 p.m. to 5:42 p.m.––providing just enough daylight to take a refreshing walk around the block after work.
With files from Dennis Mersereau, a digital journalist at The Weather Network.