With 17+ inches of snow having fallen in Chicago over the past few weeks, it’s hard to believe that winter hasn’t even begun yet!
But this weekend will mark the official start of the season, with the return of the winter solstice—the shortest day of the year.
Here’s everything to know about the astronomical event!
What is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice is the official start of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, occurring each year on or around December 21.
The change of the season is controlled by the position of the Earth’s Axis in relation to the Sun.
During the solstice and subsequent winter, the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun, causing the frigid temperatures we’re so accustomed to here in Chicago.
When is the Winter Solstice?
The 2025 winter solstice will occur on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 10:03 A.M. On the solstice, the sun will rise at 7:14 a.m. and set at 4:22 p.m., according to Time and Date.
This means Chicago will see just roughly 9 hours of sunlight over the course of the day!
If you’re someone who thrives on sunlight, the solstice will be a bit challenging—but there’s a silver lining.
After the solstice, the sun will begin to set later and later each day until we finally reach the summer solstice in June of 2026. So hang in there Chicago, longer days aren’t far away!