Most people have their own milestones that mark the end of summer: as soon as August hits, the first day back at school, the last beach trip of the season and so on.
But would it surprise you if we told you none of those events mark the real last day of summer?
When does summer end?
On average, summer lasts for about 93.6 days, according to TimeandDate.com.
This year in the U.S., the summer solstice began on June 21 and will run through Sept. 23, when autumn officially arrives.
Details on summer solstice
The summer solstice marks the first day of summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, it typically occurs in late June. In the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs in late December.
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, meaning it has the most hours of sunlight. On this day we will see the sun at its highest point in the sky, taking longer for it to rise and set.
Although we’ll see less daylight as the season carries on, temperatures will continue to rise as the Earth takes time to cool down (called seasonal lag), making way for the dog days of summer we know and — sometimes — love.
So, for those of you already mourning the loss of sweet summertime, cheer up.
We’ve still got plenty of sunny fun left to enjoy.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
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