News & Press: Natural world

Winter Solstice

19 December 2022   (0 Comments)

In astronomical terms, Winter starts at the Winter Solstice.



This year the Sun reaches its furthest point south of 23º26.1’ at 2148 UTC (~GMT) on 21 December. Astronomical Spring will follow at the Vernal Equinox, when the Sun re-crosses the equator to the north - at 2124 UTC on 20 March 2023.



But, in meteorological terms, Winter in the northern hemisphere covers the months of December, January and February.



And European clocks should re-adopt Summertime at 0100 UTC on 26 March 2023, in compliance with an EU directive since 2002, which states that ‘Summer Time’ will be observed between the last Sundays in March and October, clocks to change at 0100 UTC. At the momentUK still complies with this mandate.


Further details from the Royal Observatory


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