Longer days ahead. What will Winter Solstice bring to South Sound?

The shortest day of the year — when the sun arcs across the sky at its lowest point of the year — is, at last, upon us.

As the winter solstice comes and quickly goes on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 7:03 a.m. Pacific Time, we can officially look forward to longer days around Tacoma and South Sound.

To test the effects of the solstice, Farmer’s Almanac recommends we channel Punxsutawney Phil: Stand outside at noon to catch your shadow — it should be the longest such shadow one can cast at any point during the year. On the opposite end of the spectrum, on the summer solstice, your shadow should be almost unnoticeable.

The weather won’t quite care, however. The National Weather Service anticipates much more of the same for areas around Puget Sound.

On the solstice itself, expect chilly temperatures that will max out around the mid-40s with scattered rain and frequent breezes in the lowlands. From the mountains’ perspective, NWS Seattle forecasts snow as low as the 1,500-foot elevation mark — up to 2 feet could fall at both Snoqualmie and Stevens passes between Saturday afternoon and Monday night.

“Use caution if you’re planning to travel across the Cascades,” NWS warned in its Saturday morning report, especially on Interstate 90 and Route 12. Additonal road closures are already in place due to landslides and crumbling roadways, including on Route 2 between Skykomish and Leavenworth — usually a tourist haven at this time of year for its European-inspired alpine charm.

Meanwhile, on the coast, thunderstorms are possible through Sunday.

The impact of a series of atmospheric rivers across Western Washington is still top-of-mind, although it appears the worst is behind us. NWS predicts that drizzly rain won’t “interfere with the overall downward trend being seen on most area rivers.” Parts of the Chehalis and Skokomish rivers do not have dam regulation and thus remain under flood watch.

Experts warn that extra-damp soils will not subside, leaving the risk of landslides high — at least through the start of Christmas week.

Longer days ahead after Tacoma winter solstice

Rain aside, the sun will begin to shine a teeny bit longer in the waning days of December. As we look to the 2026 New Year, Tacoma and South Sound may thank the Earth’s tilt.

On Saturday, with approximately 8 hours and 28 minutes of sun, the sun will set at 4:21 p.m. Twilight will cut off just before 5 p.m. Eek!

On Sunday, the day of the winter solstice, that sun will bless us with one more minute — setting at 4:22 p.m. We have to wait until Tuesday night for a 4:23 p.m. sunset. The sun will see 4:30 p.m. just in time for the New Year, on Jan. 1, 2026. And then we’re off: We’ll surpass 5 p.m. sunsets on Jan. 25.

By then, the region will already be soaking in longer days, though. That clock will exceed 9 hours of sunlight even earlier — by Jan. 18.