Summer has officially arrived in New York.
Sunday, June 21, marked the summer solstice and the first official day of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also the longest day of the year, giving New Yorkers more daylight than any other day in 2026.
Whether you’re planning to spend the day outdoors or staying cool indoors, here’s what to know about the start of summer in New York.
What is the summer solstice?
The summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky and Earth’s North Pole is tilted most directly toward the sun, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
As a result, the Northern Hemisphere receives its greatest amount of daylight and most direct sunlight of the year.
The solstice occurred at 4:24 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 21
Monday will be the first full day that daylight hours will gradually start to decrease, eventually leading to the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, on Dec. 21.
How much daylight did New York get?
Here’s how much daylight several New York cities received on the summer solstice, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac:
What are the dates of the remaining seasons in 2026?
Contributing: USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Summer solstice brings longest day to New York
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
