Louisville/Jefferson County, KY: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Louisville/Jefferson County
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:55 am and sets at 5:26 pm: 9h 31m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 49m, so the swing is 5h 19m.
When it gets better in Louisville/Jefferson County
- Earliest sunset: 5:22 pm on Dec 6, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:59 am on Jan 5.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 23.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.4 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 174 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 30. 30 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 38.2°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 Louisville/Jefferson County
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 130 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Aug 18 to Apr 20, so set it up before Aug 18.
- 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 16 to Dec 25: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 16.
Daylight in Louisville/Jefferson County, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 31m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:36 am | 9:01 pm | 14h 25m |
| August 2026 | 7:03 am | 8:28 pm | 13h 25m |
| September 2026 | 7:30 am | 7:41 pm | 12h 11m |
| October 2026 | 7:57 am | 6:56 pm | 10h 59m |
| November 2026 | 7:30 am | 5:26 pm | 9h 56m |
| December 2026 | 7:55 am | 5:26 pm | 9h 31m |
| January 2027 | 7:55 am | 5:53 pm | 9h 58m |
| February 2027 | 7:25 am | 6:27 pm | 11h 02m |
| March 2027 | 7:45 am | 7:55 pm | 12h 11m |
| April 2027 | 6:59 am | 8:24 pm | 13h 25m |
| May 2027 | 6:27 am | 8:52 pm | 14h 24m |
| June 2027 | 6:20 am | 9:09 pm | 14h 49m |
Louisville/Jefferson County against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Louisville/Jefferson County (9h 31m, sunset 5:26 pm):
- Jeffersontown, KY, 5 mi away: 9h 30m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:26 pm (0 min).
- St. Matthews, KY, 6 mi away: 9h 30m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:26 pm (0 min).
- Lyndon, KY, 7 mi away: 9h 30m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:26 pm (0 min).
- Shively, KY, 9 mi away: 9h 30m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:27 pm (+1 min).
- Mount Washington, KY, 10 mi away: 9h 31m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:26 pm (0 min), on America/New York time.