The United States is in the final days of astronomical fall and is approaching one of the most significant moments of the year: the winter solstice. The transition marks the end of a temperate phase and the entry into a period of lower temperatures and days with less light, a change that will impact large parts of the country.
According to available information, astronomical autumn ends December 20, 2025. Winter begins on December 21st, when the solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the start of the coldest season in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the calculations of Time and dateThe phenomenon will occur at 9:03 a.m. Central Time (CST), which is 10:03 a.m. Eastern Time.
Unlike the astronomical calendar, the climatic autumn is already over in the United States. This measurement uses fixed time periods of three months to facilitate the comparison of meteorological records and the development of climate models. In this case, the climatic autumn extends from September 1st to November 30th Met Office. The classification used by meteorological services allows for a more precise analysis of climate trends and behavior.
The winter solstice is marked by a combination of astronomical factors related to the tilt of the Earth’s axis. This axis remains tilted as the Earth moves in its orbit, allowing each hemisphere to receive a different amount of light throughout the year. At the time of the solstice, the North Pole is further from the Sun, reducing lighting hours and lengthening the night Time and date. This position results in the shortest day of the year and defines the official start of astronomical winter in the United States.
Although the days will gradually become longer after the solstice, temperatures will continue to drop. The phenomenon is explained by a seasonal difference: Neither the earth’s surface nor the oceans adjust their temperature immediately. They need time to warm up or cool down after receiving more or less sunlight, causing the cold to persist through most of the winter, even as the days become longer.
The tilt of the Earth’s axis determines the existence of the seasons, as explained in a NASA educational report. When one hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, spring and summer occur. When it faces the opposite direction, autumn and winter begin. This process, repeated year after year, creates the contrasts typical of each season and defines the climate cycles that affect daily life, economic activity and regional planning.
The end of autumn and the entry into winter will mark a phase dominated by low temperatures and long nights and a climate that requires precautions until the Northern Hemisphere heads toward brighter months.
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