Goldsboro, NC: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Goldsboro
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:17 am and sets at 5:03 pm: 9h 46m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 33m, so the swing is 4h 47m.
When it gets better in Goldsboro
- Earliest sunset: 4:59 pm on Dec 5, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:21 am on Jan 7.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 14.
- 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 96 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 60. 40 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 35.4°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 Goldsboro
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth considering if you get up at 7:00 am or earlier: 26 weekday mornings here are still properly dark at that hour, mostly between Sep 23 and Mar 31.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 40 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 22: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Goldsboro, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 46m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:12 am | 8:24 pm | 14h 11m |
| August 2026 | 6:36 am | 7:53 pm | 13h 17m |
| September 2026 | 6:59 am | 7:10 pm | 12h 11m |
| October 2026 | 7:23 am | 6:29 pm | 11h 06m |
| November 2026 | 6:53 am | 5:02 pm | 10h 09m |
| December 2026 | 7:17 am | 5:03 pm | 9h 46m |
| January 2027 | 7:18 am | 5:29 pm | 10h 10m |
| February 2027 | 6:52 am | 6:00 pm | 11h 08m |
| March 2027 | 7:14 am | 7:24 pm | 12h 10m |
| April 2027 | 6:32 am | 7:50 pm | 13h 18m |
| May 2027 | 6:03 am | 8:14 pm | 14h 11m |
| June 2027 | 5:57 am | 8:30 pm | 14h 33m |
Goldsboro against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Goldsboro (9h 46m, sunset 5:03 pm):
- Kinston, NC, 22 mi away: 9h 47m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:02 pm (-1 min).
- Smithfield, NC, 24 mi away: 9h 45m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:04 pm (+1 min).
- Wilson, NC, 25 mi away: 9h 44m of daylight (-2 min), sunset 5:02 pm (-1 min).
- Clayton, NC, 33 mi away: 9h 45m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:04 pm (+1 min).
- Winterville, NC, 34 mi away: 9h 45m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:00 pm (-3 min).