Altus, OK: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Altus
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:40 am and sets at 5:30 pm: 9h 50m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 29m, so the swing is 4h 39m.
When it gets better in Altus
- Earliest sunset: 5:26 pm on Dec 4, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:45 am on Jan 7.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 10.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.1 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 168 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 21. 21 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 34.7°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 Altus
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 110 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Aug 18 to Apr 19, so set it up before Aug 18.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 21 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 20 to Dec 18: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 20.
Daylight in Altus, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 50m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:40 am | 8:47 pm | 14h 08m |
| August 2026 | 7:02 am | 8:18 pm | 13h 15m |
| September 2026 | 7:25 am | 7:35 pm | 12h 11m |
| October 2026 | 7:48 am | 6:55 pm | 11h 07m |
| November 2026 | 7:17 am | 5:29 pm | 10h 12m |
| December 2026 | 7:40 am | 5:30 pm | 9h 50m |
| January 2027 | 7:42 am | 5:55 pm | 10h 14m |
| February 2027 | 7:16 am | 6:26 pm | 11h 10m |
| March 2027 | 7:40 am | 7:50 pm | 12h 10m |
| April 2027 | 6:58 am | 8:14 pm | 13h 16m |
| May 2027 | 6:30 am | 8:38 pm | 14h 07m |
| June 2027 | 6:25 am | 8:54 pm | 14h 29m |
Altus against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Altus (9h 50m, sunset 5:30 pm):
- Lawton, OK, 51 mi away: 9h 50m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:27 pm (-3 min).
- Elk City, OK, 51 mi away: 9h 46m of daylight (-4 min), sunset 5:29 pm (-1 min).
- Burkburnett, TX, 58 mi away: 9h 53m of daylight (+3 min), sunset 5:29 pm (-1 min).
- Wichita Falls, TX, 68 mi away: 9h 54m of daylight (+4 min), sunset 5:29 pm (-1 min).
- Weatherford, OK, 70 mi away: 9h 45m of daylight (-5 min), sunset 5:26 pm (-4 min).