Beckley, WV: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Beckley
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:36 am and sets at 5:09 pm: 9h 33m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 47m, so the swing is 5h 14m.
When it gets better in Beckley
- Earliest sunset: 5:05 pm on Dec 6, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:40 am on Jan 5.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 22.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.3 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 135 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 55. 48 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 37.8°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 Beckley
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 84 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 8 to Apr 7, so set it up before Sep 8.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 48 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 15: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Beckley, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 33m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:19 am | 8:42 pm | 14h 23m |
| August 2026 | 6:45 am | 8:09 pm | 13h 24m |
| September 2026 | 7:12 am | 7:23 pm | 12h 11m |
| October 2026 | 7:39 am | 6:39 pm | 11h 00m |
| November 2026 | 7:11 am | 5:09 pm | 9h 58m |
| December 2026 | 7:36 am | 5:09 pm | 9h 33m |
| January 2027 | 7:36 am | 5:36 pm | 10h 00m |
| February 2027 | 7:07 am | 6:10 pm | 11h 03m |
| March 2027 | 7:27 am | 7:37 pm | 12h 10m |
| April 2027 | 6:42 am | 8:06 pm | 13h 24m |
| May 2027 | 6:10 am | 8:33 pm | 14h 22m |
| June 2027 | 6:03 am | 8:50 pm | 14h 47m |
Beckley against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Beckley (9h 33m, sunset 5:09 pm):
- Charleston, WV, 47 mi away: 9h 30m of daylight (-3 min), sunset 5:09 pm (0 min).
- South Charleston, WV, 49 mi away: 9h 30m of daylight (-3 min), sunset 5:10 pm (+1 min).
- Blacksburg, VA, 55 mi away: 9h 36m of daylight (+3 min), sunset 5:08 pm (-1 min).
- St. Albans, WV, 55 mi away: 9h 29m of daylight (-4 min), sunset 5:10 pm (+1 min).
- Radford, VA, 56 mi away: 9h 37m of daylight (+4 min), sunset 5:09 pm (0 min).