Chico, CA: shortest day and earliest sunset

The shortest day in Chico

On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:25 am and sets at 4:46 pm: 9h 21m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 59m, so the swing is 5h 38m.

When it gets better in Chico

• Earliest sunset: 4:43 pm on Dec 7, before the shortest day (here is why).
• Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:29 am on Jan 4.
• Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 27.
• 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 95 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 68. 53 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.

At 39.8°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 Chico

• A sunrise alarm clock is worth considering if you get up at 7:00 am or earlier: 42 weekday mornings here are still properly dark at that hour, mostly between Sep 28 and Mar 26.
• There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 53 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 3: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.

Daylight in Chico, month by month

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

Chico against the places around it

On the shortest day, compared with Chico (9h 21m, sunset 4:46 pm):

• Oroville, CA, 23 mi away: 9h 23m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 4:46 pm (0 min).
• Red Bluff, CA, 36 mi away: 9h 19m of daylight (-2 min), sunset 4:47 pm (+1 min).
• Marysville, CA, 44 mi away: 9h 25m of daylight (+4 min), sunset 4:47 pm (+1 min).
• Yuba City, CA, 44 mi away: 9h 25m of daylight (+4 min), sunset 4:47 pm (+1 min).
• Anderson, CA, 54 mi away: 9h 17m of daylight (-4 min), sunset 4:46 pm (0 min).