Father’s Day is just about here, but it’s not the only celebratory event on the calendar this weekend. The summer solstice happens the same day.
So, when does summer 2026 start? What is the exact time of the summer solstice? Here’s what to know about the longest day of the year.
When is the summer solstice 2026? When is the longest day of the year?
The 2026 summer solstice happens at 4:24 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere. After the summer solstice, the hours of daylight sill start to decrease slowly as the summer wears on.
In Ohio, the sun rises at 5:03 a.m. and sets at 8:04 p.m. on the first day of summer, according to the United State Naval Observatory, giving the Buckeye State a full 15 hours of daylight. By the end of July, the sun will rise at 5:30 a.m. and set at 7:47 p.m.
How is meteorological summer different from astronomical summer?
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, astronomical seasons are defined by the Earth’s orbiting position in relation to the sun. Meteorological seasons are dictated by the Earth’s temperatures, according to USA TODAY.
The Earth’s tilt and “the sun’s alignment over the equator” shape the equinoxes and solstices. The Earth is tilted approximately 23.5 degrees on its axis. Because of this tilt, there are times when part of our planet leans toward the sun, and other times when another part of the planet faces away, according to NCEI.
The Earth’s elliptical orbit brings our planet closer or farther to the sun, depending on where the planet is in its 365.24-day cycle. These factors determine when the astronomical seasons fall, and each season varies in length from 89 to 93 days. Because of these variations in length, meteorological seasons were created.
Ohio summer solstice events
Want to plan for a summer solstice event? Ohio has a few you can attend this weeked:
How many hours will the summer solstice be in Ohio?
The Buckeye State will see around 15 hours of daylight on the day of the summer solstice.
Columbus will see a little more than 15 hours of daylight on June 21, according to Time and Date.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What time is the summer solstice? Timing, details for first day of summer
Reporting by Mariyam Muhammad, USA TODAY NETWORK / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mariyam Muhammad, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
