Earliest sunset occurs on December 7, not winter solstice

The winter solstice on December 21 is often called the "shortest" day of the year, but the earliest sunset actually occurs on December 7 at 4:11 PM. This is a key distinction in understanding daylight patterns. While December 21 has the least overall daylight, the latest sunrise happens in early January, about two weeks later. This difference is due to the way sunrise and sunset times change throughout the year. Meteorologists explain that the length of a solar day varies slightly, affecting the timing of sunrises and sunsets. Some lawmakers are advocating for year-round daylight saving time to address the impact of early sunsets.