It may seem as though summer has just begun, but days are about to start getting shorter.
The summer solstice, marking the first day of astronomical summer, will occur in the early morning hours of June 21, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Meteorological summer began on June 1.
The solstice marks the point at which the Northern Hemisphere points most directly toward the sun and provides the greatest amount of daylight. Once the solstice passes, days begin to get shorter as we begin the inevitable march toward the winter solstice in December.
In Copper Harbor, Michiganders will experience nearly 16 hours of sunlight on June 21. Meanwhile, in New Buffalo, there will be 15 hours, 13 minutes of daylight.
Here’s what to know about summer’s start.
When does summer begin?
The summer solstice is at 4:24 a.m. EDT on June 21, 2026.
How much daylight will we get on June 21?
In Michigan, the amount of daylight you get depends upon how far north or south you are. The farther north, the more sunlight. Here’s a look at sunrise and the amount of daylight in various locations:
What is the summer solstice?
The summer solstice marks the official first day of astronomical summer, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It marks the point at which the Northern Hemisphere points most directly toward the sun and provides the greatest amount of daylight.
Days begin to get shorter in the Northern Hemisphere starting after the solstice.
When does meteorological summer start?
Meteorological summer began on June 1 and ends Aug. 31, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
What’s the difference between astronomical and meteorological summer?
In short, it’s because the astronomical seasons are based on the position of Earth in relation to the sun, whereas the meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle, according to NOAA.
The equinoxes mark when the sun passes directly above the equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice falls on or around June 21, the winter solstice on or around Dec. 22, the vernal or spring equinox on or around March 21, and the autumnal equinox on or around Sept. 22. These seasons are reversed, but begin on the same dates in the Southern Hemisphere.
Meteorologists and climatologists break the seasons down into groupings of three months based on the annual temperature cycle, as well as the calendar.
“We generally think of winter as the coldest time of the year and summer as the warmest time of the year, with spring and fall being the transition seasons, and that is what the meteorological seasons are based on,” NOAA said.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan is about to experience peak daylight. Here’s why
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
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By Jenna Prestininzi, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
