Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted six more weeks of winter, but SPACE.com explains why we can expect to see more sunlight in the coming days.
However, it is in the second half of winter that the effects of the northward shift of the sun's direct rays start becoming much more noticeable. In fact, by March 20, the date of the vernal equinox, the length of daylight will have increased by 2 hours and 5 minutes since Feb. 4. And because daylight saving time begins on March 11 this year, by March 20 the sun will be setting just a few minutes shy of 7 p.m.
Interestingly, for many northern locales, long-term records indicate the first four days of February are the coldest of the winter. But average daily temperatures rise rapidly thereafter, so that by the last week of the month they are higher than any day in January. Meteorologists, in fact, consider the winter season to be over at the end of February; they think of "meteorological winter" as defined by the three coldest months of the year: December, January and February.
So for all those winter-weary souls, take heart: In the days and weeks to come, you'll more readily be able to sense the greater amounts of daily light and see the more northerly position of the afternoon sunsets on the horizon. And soon the weather will correspondingly respond as well.
Original source: SPACE.com
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