Summer has officially arrived.
The summer solstice occurs today, marking the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The solstice happens when the Earth’s North Pole is tilted closest to the sun, allowing for the greatest amount of daylight.
While the exact amount of daylight varies by location, southeast Iowa will see just over 15 hours of sunshine today. After the solstice, daylight hours will gradually begin to decrease, although the change will be barely noticeable at first. The word “solstice” comes from Latin, meaning “sun stands still,” because the sun appears to pause before beginning its slow shift southward in the sky.
The start of astronomical summer also signals the beginning of the season for vacations, outdoor festivals, county fairs, and summer sports. Even though days will slowly become shorter, the warmest temperatures of the year typically don’t arrive until July and August, as the land and atmosphere continue to absorb heat throughout the summer months.