Portage, MI: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Portage
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 8:08 am and sets at 5:13 pm: 9h 06m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 16m, so the swing is 6h 10m.
When it gets better in Portage
- Earliest sunset: 5:10 pm on Dec 8, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 8:11 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 168 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 46. 46 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 42.2°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 Portage
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 132 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Aug 25 to Apr 16, so set it up before Aug 25.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 46 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 6 to Jan 8: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 6.
Daylight in Portage, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 06m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:25 am | 9:12 pm | 14h 48m |
| August 2026 | 6:56 am | 8:34 pm | 13h 38m |
| September 2026 | 7:29 am | 7:41 pm | 12h 12m |
| October 2026 | 8:02 am | 6:51 pm | 10h 49m |
| November 2026 | 7:40 am | 5:16 pm | 9h 36m |
| December 2026 | 8:08 am | 5:13 pm | 9h 06m |
| January 2027 | 8:05 am | 5:43 pm | 9h 37m |
| February 2027 | 7:30 am | 6:22 pm | 10h 52m |
| March 2027 | 7:44 am | 7:56 pm | 12h 11m |
| April 2027 | 6:53 am | 8:30 pm | 13h 38m |
| May 2027 | 6:16 am | 9:03 pm | 14h 47m |
| June 2027 | 6:06 am | 9:22 pm | 15h 16m |
Portage against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Portage (9h 06m, sunset 5:13 pm):
- Kalamazoo, MI, 5 mi away: 9h 05m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:13 pm (0 min).
- Battle Creek, MI, 20 mi away: 9h 05m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:12 pm (-1 min).
- Sturgis, MI, 29 mi away: 9h 08m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 5:14 pm (+1 min).
- Coldwater, MI, 35 mi away: 9h 07m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:12 pm (-1 min).
- Elkhart, IN, 40 mi away: 9h 09m of daylight (+3 min), sunset 5:17 pm (+4 min), on America/Indiana/Indianapolis time.