Macomb, IL: shortest day and earliest sunset

The shortest day in Macomb

On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:23 am and sets at 4:39 pm: 9h 17m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 04m, so the swing is 5h 47m.

When it gets better in Macomb

• Earliest sunset: 4:36 pm on Dec 7, before the shortest day (here is why).
• Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:26 am on Jan 4.
• Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 28.
• By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.6 minutes a day.

Waking and coming home in the dark

With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 86 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 71. 54 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.

At 40.5°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 Macomb

• A sunrise alarm clock is worth considering if you get up at 7:00 am or earlier: 35 weekday mornings here are still properly dark at that hour, mostly between Oct 2 and Mar 23.
• There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 54 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 8: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.

Daylight in Macomb, month by month

Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 17m.

Macomb against the places around it

On the shortest day, compared with Macomb (9h 17m, sunset 4:39 pm):

• Burlington, IA, 33 mi away: 9h 15m of daylight (-2 min), sunset 4:40 pm (+1 min).
• Canton, IL, 35 mi away: 9h 16m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 4:36 pm (-3 min).
• Galesburg, IL, 37 mi away: 9h 14m of daylight (-3 min), sunset 4:37 pm (-2 min).
• Quincy, IL, 52 mi away: 9h 20m of daylight (+3 min), sunset 4:44 pm (+5 min).
• Pekin, IL, 56 mi away: 9h 16m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 4:35 pm (-4 min).