Winter Solstice – Shortest Day of the Year
Solstices are opposite on either side of the equator, so the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.
The December Solstice.
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Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice:
(North America, Central America, Europe, Asia, northern Africa)
In San Francisco, California, USA: Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 7:59 am PST (Change location)
This corresponds to Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 3:59 pm UTC.
- Sun rise/set and day length around this equinox
- Equinox countdown
- Local times for this equinox worldwide
- Equinox Day and Night Map
Southern Hemisphere Winter Solstice:
(Australia, New Zealand, South America, Southern Africa)
In San Francisco, California, USA: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 2:13 am PDT (Change location)
This corresponds to Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 9:13 am UTC.
- Sun rise/set and day length around this equinox
- Equinox countdown
- Local times for this equinox worldwide
- Equinox Day and Night Map
First Day or Mid Winter?
In the USA and some other areas in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the first day of winter. However, the official date for the first day of winter varies depending on the country's climate, and whether they follow astronomical or meteorological seasons.