Temperatures might not feel like it, but winter is officially here in California — and on the bright side, our days are about to start getting longer again.
When is the first day of winter?
In 2024, the first day of winter is Dec. 21, which falls today.
What is winter solstice?
The first day of winter is marked by the winter solstice, which occurs when the Earth’s axis tilts farthest from the sun. This year, the solstice happened at 1:21 a.m. on Dec. 21, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
While the solstice itself is brief, it signals the official start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The event also brings the longest night and shortest day of the year. From this point on, the days will gradually begin to lengthen again.
Related: San Diego gets more daylight than Redding on winter solstice. How do other cities compare?
Does winter solstice change?
The exact timing of the solstice can vary slightly from year to year.
It doesn’t fall on the same date each time, though it typically occurs between Dec. 20-23. This variation is due to how the calendar aligns with Earth’s orbit around the sun.
In 2024, the solstice falls on Saturday, Dec. 21, marking the official beginning of winter and ushering in the season’s characteristic cold fronts and holiday traditions.
When does winter end?
Winter will end on March 20, 2025.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: When is California winter solstice 2024? First day of winter is here