More cotton candy skies headed our way. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios
Portland will hit a seasonal milestone tomorrow with our first 8pm sunset of the year.
Why it matters: In a city shaped by extreme seasonal light swings, crossing that threshold is more than symbolic, it marks a psychological turning point.
Friends and family are more open to making plans after 6pm, parks and patios fill up earlier in the day and the general mood of the city feels lighter.
By the numbers: Portland sits at about 45.5° north latitude, high enough to amplify the Earth's tilt, creating darker winters and longer summer days than most of the U.S.
In December, the sun here sets as early as 4:30pm.
By contrast, summer sunsets stretch to 9pm, with nearly 16 hours of daylight around the solstice.
Yes, but: The tradeoff comes later when we get those long, dark, winter days.
What's next: Sunsets will keep getting later until late June, when Portland approaches its longest day of the year and twilight lingers till nearly 10pm.
