Berthoud, CO: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Berthoud
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:19 am and sets at 4:37 pm: 9h 18m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 03m, so the swing is 5h 45m.
When it gets better in Berthoud
- Earliest sunset: 4:34 pm on Dec 7, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:23 am on Jan 4.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 28.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.5 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 78 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 73. 52 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 40.3°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 Berthoud
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth considering if you get up at 7:00 am or earlier: 23 weekday mornings here are still properly dark at that hour, mostly between Oct 5 and Mar 22.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 52 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 Feb 10: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Berthoud, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 18m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 5:48 am | 8:24 pm | 14h 36m |
| August 2026 | 6:17 am | 7:48 pm | 13h 31m |
| September 2026 | 6:47 am | 6:58 pm | 12h 12m |
| October 2026 | 7:17 am | 6:11 pm | 10h 54m |
| November 2026 | 6:53 am | 4:39 pm | 9h 46m |
| December 2026 | 7:19 am | 4:37 pm | 9h 18m |
| January 2027 | 7:18 am | 5:05 pm | 9h 48m |
| February 2027 | 6:45 am | 5:42 pm | 10h 57m |
| March 2027 | 7:02 am | 7:13 pm | 12h 11m |
| April 2027 | 6:13 am | 7:45 pm | 13h 32m |
| May 2027 | 5:39 am | 8:15 pm | 14h 36m |
| June 2027 | 5:30 am | 8:33 pm | 15h 03m |
Berthoud against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Berthoud (9h 18m, sunset 4:37 pm):
- Johnstown, CO, 3 mi away: 9h 18m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:37 pm (0 min).
- Firestone, CO, 9 mi away: 9h 19m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 4:37 pm (0 min).
- Loveland, CO, 10 mi away: 9h 17m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 4:37 pm (0 min).
- Longmont, CO, 11 mi away: 9h 19m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 4:38 pm (+1 min).
- Evans, CO, 12 mi away: 9h 18m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:36 pm (-1 min).