Marshalltown, IA: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Marshalltown
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:36 am and sets at 4:43 pm: 9h 07m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 15m, so the swing is 6h 08m.
When it gets better in Marshalltown
- Earliest sunset: 4:40 pm on Dec 8, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:40 am on Jan 3.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 1.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.7 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 108 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 68. 58 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 42.0°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 Marshalltown
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 67 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 23 to Mar 26, so set it up before Sep 23.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 58 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 Marshalltown, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 07m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 5:55 am | 8:41 pm | 14h 47m |
| August 2026 | 6:26 am | 8:03 pm | 13h 37m |
| September 2026 | 6:58 am | 7:10 pm | 12h 12m |
| October 2026 | 7:31 am | 6:21 pm | 10h 49m |
| November 2026 | 7:09 am | 4:46 pm | 9h 37m |
| December 2026 | 7:36 am | 4:43 pm | 9h 07m |
| January 2027 | 7:34 am | 5:12 pm | 9h 38m |
| February 2027 | 6:59 am | 5:52 pm | 10h 53m |
| March 2027 | 7:13 am | 7:25 pm | 12h 11m |
| April 2027 | 6:22 am | 7:59 pm | 13h 37m |
| May 2027 | 5:46 am | 8:31 pm | 14h 46m |
| June 2027 | 5:36 am | 8:51 pm | 15h 15m |
Marshalltown against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Marshalltown (9h 07m, sunset 4:43 pm):
- Newton, IA, 24 mi away: 9h 09m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 4:45 pm (+2 min).
- Ames, IA, 37 mi away: 9h 07m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:46 pm (+3 min).
- Altoona, IA, 40 mi away: 9h 09m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 4:47 pm (+4 min).
- Cedar Falls, IA, 41 mi away: 9h 03m of daylight (-4 min), sunset 4:40 pm (-3 min).
- Ankeny, IA, 41 mi away: 9h 09m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 4:47 pm (+4 min).