Minot, ND: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Minot
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 8:33 am and sets at 4:53 pm: 8h 20m of daylight, a dark winter. The longest day of summer has 16h 05m, so the swing is 7h 45m.
When it gets better in Minot
- Earliest sunset: 4:51 pm on Dec 11, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 8:36 am on Dec 31.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 11.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 3.4 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 161 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 60. 60 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 48.2°N this is as far north as, or farther than, Nashua NH (43°N), where a 1990 survey found 9.7% of adults reported winter depression.
What to do about it in Minot
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 139 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Aug 31 to Apr 12, so set it up before Aug 31.
- On daylight grounds there is a strong case for a light therapy lamp: 60 weekdays start and end in the dark. Use it in the morning, and if winter low mood is the reason, ask a doctor before you rely on one.
- 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 Minot, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 8h 20m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:07 am | 9:35 pm | 15h 28m |
| August 2026 | 6:48 am | 8:48 pm | 14h 00m |
| September 2026 | 7:31 am | 7:45 pm | 12h 14m |
| October 2026 | 8:14 am | 6:45 pm | 10h 31m |
| November 2026 | 8:01 am | 5:00 pm | 8h 59m |
| December 2026 | 8:33 am | 4:53 pm | 8h 20m |
| January 2027 | 8:26 am | 5:27 pm | 9h 01m |
| February 2027 | 7:42 am | 6:17 pm | 10h 35m |
| March 2027 | 7:46 am | 7:59 pm | 12h 13m |
| April 2027 | 6:44 am | 8:44 pm | 14h 00m |
| May 2027 | 5:59 am | 9:26 pm | 15h 27m |
| June 2027 | 5:44 am | 9:49 pm | 16h 05m |
Minot against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Minot (8h 20m, sunset 4:53 pm):
- Mandan, ND, 99 mi away: 8h 32m of daylight (+12 min), sunset 4:58 pm (+5 min), on America/North Dakota/New Salem time.
- Bismarck, ND, 101 mi away: 8h 32m of daylight (+12 min), sunset 4:57 pm (+4 min).
- Williston, ND, 109 mi away: 8h 21m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:03 pm (+10 min).
- Dickinson, ND, 117 mi away: 8h 31m of daylight (+11 min), sunset 4:05 pm (-48 min), on America/Denver time.
- Jamestown, ND, 151 mi away: 8h 31m of daylight (+11 min), sunset 4:49 pm (-4 min).