Murphy, TX: shortest day and earliest sunset

The shortest day in Murphy

On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:25 am and sets at 5:24 pm: 9h 58m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 20m, so the swing is 4h 22m.

When it gets better in Murphy

• Earliest sunset: 5:19 pm on Dec 3, before the shortest day (here is why).
• Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:30 am on Jan 8.
• Back above 10 hours of daylight: Dec 30.
• By Feb 21 the days grow by 1.9 minutes a day.

Waking and coming home in the dark

With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 136 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 39. 31 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.

At 33.0°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 Murphy

• A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 71 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.
• There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 31 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 9 to Dec 31: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 9.

Daylight in Murphy, month by month

Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 58m.

Murphy against the places around it

On the shortest day, compared with Murphy (9h 58m, sunset 5:24 pm):

• Sachse, TX, 4 mi away: 9h 59m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).
• Wylie, TX, 5 mi away: 9h 58m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:23 pm (-1 min).
• Richardson, TX, 7 mi away: 9h 59m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).
• Allen, TX, 7 mi away: 9h 58m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).
• Garland, TX, 7 mi away: 9h 59m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).