NYC's winter solstice arrives Sunday with the year's shortest day

Teaser: NYC will mark the winter solstice this Sunday with only 9 hours of daylight—the shortest day of the year. Here's what to expect.

If you've got outdoor plans this weekend, set your alarm early. This Sunday, December 21, NYC will ring in a new season with the winter solstice—the official start of astronomical winter—and the year's shortest day.

Humans have celebrated the winter solstice for thousands of years. According to the History Channel, some traditions date back to the Neolithic era, around 10,200 BCE.

Today, cultures worldwide still go all out to welcome the season. Fun fact: the solstice marks astronomical winter, which differs from meteorological winter, beginning roughly three weeks earlier.

Don't blink, though—the solstice itself lasts just a fraction of a second.

The Farmer's Almanac explains it's the precise moment the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun, occurring at 10:03 a.m. in 2025. This tilt is also why it's the darkest day of the year, with the longest night ahead.

In NYC, sunrise is at 7:16 a.m. and sunset at 4:31 p.m. on Sunday, giving us a mere nine hours and 15 minutes of daylight. Pretty depressing, if you ask us.

But if you're heading outside, there's a silver lining: AccuWeather forecasts a partly sunny day with a high of 48°F, so it won't feel as bitter as the day before.

The good news? From here, the days only get brighter!

The best part? Reaching the winter solstice means days will gradually lengthen until the summer solstice (the longest day of the year) on Sunday, June 21, 2026.

So while this might be prime hibernation time, don't sink too deep into the winter blues—sunnier days are on the way.