Losing sunlight
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North Carolina has entered into the season of false fall, the yearly period near the end of summer when its residents get teased by beautiful cool days that feel like a herald of a season change, only to be whipsawed by a looming heat wave.
- But one thing is certain in September: The days are getting shorter.
The big picture: Parts of the northern U.S. are losing more than three hours of daylight between June 20 (the summer solstice) and Sept. 22 (the fall equinox), per NOAA's handy Solar Calculator.
- In Raleigh, we will have lost two hours and 26 minutes over the same time period.
How it works: Here in the Northern Hemisphere, northern latitudes lose more daylight in the fall and winter compared to areas closer to the equator as the Sun's path through the sky shifts southward.
Worthy of your time: While some of us do thrive in the cooler months, the shortening amount of daylight can affect everyone differently.
- If you struggle with the winter blues, read our colleague Carly Mallenbaum's story on dealing with seasonal affective disorder or seasonal depression.