Heath, TX: shortest day and earliest sunset

The shortest day in Heath

On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:25 am and sets at 5:24 pm: 9h 59m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 19m, so the swing is 4h 20m.

When it gets better in Heath

• Earliest sunset: 5:19 pm on Dec 3, before the shortest day (here is why).
• Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:29 am on Jan 8.
• Back above 10 hours of daylight: Dec 28.
• By Feb 21 the days grow by 1.9 minutes a day.

Waking and coming home in the dark

With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 132 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 39. 30 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.

At 32.9°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 Heath

• A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 69 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 1 to Apr 9, so set it up before Sep 1.
• There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 30 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 9 to Dec 31: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 9.

Daylight in Heath, month by month

Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 59m.

Heath against the places around it

On the shortest day, compared with Heath (9h 59m, sunset 5:24 pm):

• Rockwall, TX, 5 mi away: 9h 59m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:23 pm (-1 min).
• Rowlett, TX, 7 mi away: 9h 59m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).
• Forney, TX, 8 mi away: 10h 00m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).
• Fate, TX, 8 mi away: 9h 59m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:23 pm (-1 min).
• Mesquite, TX, 10 mi away: 10h 00m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).