Alpine, UT: shortest day and earliest sunset

The shortest day in Alpine

On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:47 am and sets at 5:04 pm: 9h 17m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 04m, so the swing is 5h 47m.

When it gets better in Alpine

• Earliest sunset: 5:00 pm on Dec 7, before the shortest day (here is why).
• Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:51 am on Jan 4.
• Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 28.
• By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.6 minutes a day.

Waking and coming home in the dark

With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 142 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 57. 55 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.

At 40.5°N this sits between Sarasota FL (27°N, 1.4%) and Nashua NH (43°N, 9.7%) in a 1990 survey of winter depression by latitude.

What to do about it in Alpine

• A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 96 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 7 to Apr 7, so set it up before Sep 7.
• There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 55 weekdays start and end in the dark. If you notice winter low mood, ask a doctor whether one fits you.
• If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 2 to Jan 19: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.

Daylight in Alpine, month by month

Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 17m.

Alpine against the places around it

On the shortest day, compared with Alpine (9h 17m, sunset 5:04 pm):

• Highland, UT, 3 mi away: 9h 17m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:04 pm (0 min).
• Draper, UT, 5 mi away: 9h 17m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:04 pm (0 min).
• American Fork, UT, 6 mi away: 9h 17m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:04 pm (0 min).
• Lehi, UT, 6 mi away: 9h 17m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:04 pm (0 min).
• Pleasant Grove, UT, 7 mi away: 9h 17m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:04 pm (0 min).