Aug 19, 2026 - News
KC's last 8pm sunset is days away
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Most Americans have already seen their final 8pm sunset of the year, but Kansas City still has about a week of late light left.
The big picture: We lose a little more light every day as the Earth's Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun until Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year.
- The farther west within a time zone you live, the later your sunsets typically run, and KC sits in the western stretch of the Central time zone.
By the numbers: KC is losing about 16 minutes of daylight a week right now, with tonight's sunset at 8:07pm.
- The year's latest sunset came June 27 at 8:50pm, and by Dec. 7 the sun will set at 4:57pm.
- Winter solstice in KC runs about five and a half hours shorter than the summer peak.
Zoom in: The metro's final 8pm sunsets arrive within days of each other this month.
- Cass County goes first on Aug. 23, followed by Jackson and Clay counties on Aug. 24.
- Wyandotte and Johnson counties on the Kansas side hold out until Aug. 25.
💭 My thought bubble: I'm squeezing everything I can out of the last 8pm sunsets:
- Walks along the riverfront after dinner.
- Late patio happy hours that turn into watching the sunset.
- Reading on my rooftop with a view I'll miss all winter.
Go deeper: Why shorter days could change your mood