Apex, NC: shortest day and earliest sunset

The shortest day in Apex

On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:22 am and sets at 5:06 pm: 9h 44m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 35m, so the swing is 4h 51m.

When it gets better in Apex

• Earliest sunset: 5:02 pm on Dec 5, before the shortest day (here is why).
• Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:26 am on Jan 7.
• Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 15.
• By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.2 minutes a day.

Waking and coming home in the dark

With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 108 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 57. 41 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.

At 35.7°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 Apex

• A sunrise alarm clock is worth considering if you get up at 7:00 am or earlier: 45 weekday mornings here are still properly dark at that hour, mostly between Sep 18 and Apr 2.
• There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 41 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 Apex, month by month

Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 44m.

Apex against the places around it

On the shortest day, compared with Apex (9h 44m, sunset 5:06 pm):

• Cary, NC, 5 mi away: 9h 44m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:05 pm (-1 min).
• Holly Springs, NC, 5 mi away: 9h 45m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:06 pm (0 min).
• Morrisville, NC, 8 mi away: 9h 44m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:05 pm (-1 min).
• Fuquay-Varina, NC, 10 mi away: 9h 45m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:06 pm (0 min).
• Garner, NC, 15 mi away: 9h 44m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:05 pm (-1 min).