Moorhead, MN: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Moorhead
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 8:09 am and sets at 4:41 pm: 8h 32m of daylight, a dark winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 53m, so the swing is 7h 21m.
When it gets better in Moorhead
- Earliest sunset: 4:38 pm on Dec 10, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 8:12 am on Jan 1.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 9.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 3.2 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 139 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 65. 65 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 46.9°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 Moorhead
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 109 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 14 to Apr 2, so set it up before Sep 14.
- On daylight grounds there is a strong case for a light therapy lamp: 65 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 29: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Moorhead, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 8h 32m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 5:54 am | 9:12 pm | 15h 18m |
| August 2026 | 6:32 am | 8:27 pm | 13h 54m |
| September 2026 | 7:13 am | 7:26 pm | 12h 14m |
| October 2026 | 7:54 am | 6:29 pm | 10h 35m |
| November 2026 | 7:39 am | 4:47 pm | 9h 08m |
| December 2026 | 8:09 am | 4:41 pm | 8h 32m |
| January 2027 | 8:03 am | 5:14 pm | 9h 10m |
| February 2027 | 7:21 am | 6:01 pm | 10h 39m |
| March 2027 | 7:28 am | 7:41 pm | 12h 13m |
| April 2027 | 6:29 am | 8:24 pm | 13h 55m |
| May 2027 | 5:45 am | 9:02 pm | 15h 17m |
| June 2027 | 5:32 am | 9:25 pm | 15h 53m |
Moorhead against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Moorhead (8h 32m, sunset 4:41 pm):
- Fargo, ND, 4 mi away: 8h 32m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:41 pm (0 min).
- West Fargo, ND, 8 mi away: 8h 32m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:42 pm (+1 min).
- Detroit Lakes, MN, 43 mi away: 8h 32m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:38 pm (-3 min).
- Fergus Falls, MN, 51 mi away: 8h 36m of daylight (+4 min), sunset 4:41 pm (0 min).
- Grand Forks, ND, 75 mi away: 8h 23m of daylight (-9 min), sunset 4:38 pm (-3 min).